LTTE to decide on offensive today; Army offensive stepped up, casulties mount in East SL
10 Aug, 2006 (New Delhi)
The defence committee of the Tamil Tiger Rebels headed by rebel chief V Prabhakaran is meeting in the rebel headquarters of Killinochi to review the renewed offensive by the Sri Lankan defence forces in the restive eastern district of Trincomalee.
Earlier, the LTTE had said that it would consider any shelling or air attacks on its positions after the release of water from the Mavil Aru mini-dam as a "declaration of war".
48 hours after the release of water, the Sri Lankan army has continued its advance towards Mavil Aru and continues to pound rebel positions from big guns located at the Kallaru army camps and near by locations.
"Our position is clear, we have said we will see any such act as a declaration of war. The defence committee headed by His Excellency is meeting right now and a decision will be taken soon." LTTE's military spokesman Marshal Rasiah Ilanthirayan told this writer from Killinochi.
Rebel sources say the army has started a stepped up offensive at 4 am this morning. Thousands of troops are advancing towards Mavil Aru and the rebel held Eachchilampattu.
They are getting artillary and mortar support and airforce Kfir jets have continued to pound rebel positions in the region.
The rebels have reported 50 civilian deaths in the area so far since morning, more than 200 are reported injured in the shelling and air strikes.
Rebels sources say thousands of civilians were still fleeing Eachilampathu division, south of Trincomalee, towards Vaharai in Batticaloa north.
(Photo : Marshal Rasiah Ilanthirayan from TamilNet)
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