16-02-2008

“Wanni drive yielding results”

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Defence Ministry said on Friday the security forces’ “quest to liberate terror-dominated Wanni region is gaining” drive. Many civilians had been able to escape the terror clutches and seek protection in the cleared areas, it said.

It said that in Mannar 22 civilians sought protection at the Navy posts since Tuesday. “The civilians who were from Vellankulama and Iluppakadavai, deep in the non-liberated Wanni, have claimed that they could escape the terror clutches because of the dwindling LTTE hold in the region.”

The Ministry said the Army continued to attack terror fortifications that hold the civilians in “an open prison” killing at least 30 terrorists and wounding over 12.

It said in the Jaffna theatre of battle, troops deployed at Muhamalai advanced into the LTTE defences and destroyed one terror bunker. One soldier was killed and three were injured in the incident.

Separately, citing the LTTE suicide attack at the Colombo railway station on February 3, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has warned that terrorist movements may adopt such tactics and reminded law-enforcement officials of the increased use of women suicide bombers disguised as pregnant women.

“DHS and the FBI assess that female suicide bombers may have an advantage over their male counterparts in accessing targets. The means to conduct a suicide attack vary widely, but a key element in maximising the lethality of a suicide bombing is the bomber’s ability to get close to the target,” said the report.

Source-Hindu