LTTE claims capture of Lankan naval base, over 250 rebels reported killed

LTTE claims capture of Lankan naval base, over 250 rebels reported killed
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

COLOMBO, DEC 12: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Sunday claimed to have succeeded in capturing a strategic naval camp off north-eastern coast in Sri Lanka even as reports said over 250 rebels were killed in a major military offensive since Saturday.

The clandestine LTTE radio, monitored in Jaffna, said that its guerrillas have captured an adjacent naval base at north-eastern Vettilaikerni which was used as a main supply route to the beleaguered army garrison.Vettilaikerni was about 25 km north-east of Elephant Pass.

The rebel radio said that the capture of the naval base was significant victory as it was used by the Sri Lankan naval ships and boats to ferry troops and supplies.

Claiming that army suffered heavy casualties, the LTTE radio however has not given figures of its own losses.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan media reported on Sunday that with the crucial presidential polls just nine days away, the LTTE suffered a major military set back after the army effectively repulsed threemajor simultaneous sea and land LTTE counter attacks on the island's biggest army garrison at Elephant Pass in northern Jaffna peninsula.

The media quoting army sources said that 250 rebels and eight of its soldiers were killed in the attack and over 1,000 troops sustained injuries.