Category: Politics

COLOMBO, Nov 7, 2006 (AFP) – The United Nations Tuesday welcomed Sri Lanka’s move to probe the killing of hundreds of civilians by troops and Tamil Tigers, but said a broader international mechanism was needed to check rights abuses. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said in a statement that Monday’s […]

Nov 7, 2006 (AFP) – Five civilians were wounded after Tamil rebels and troops in eastern Sri Lanka traded mortar fire Tuesday, the defence ministry claimed and police found three bullet-riddled bodies in the region.Mortars fell near a temple, church and a railway station in the Morakotanchenai village and wounded at least five civilians, the […]

Nov 6, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military and Tamil Tiger rebels Monday accused each other of initiating artillery attacks in the island’s restive east as both sides braced for a major offensive in the region.“Ground and intelligence sources have confirmed that the Tigers are preparing to launch a major offensive south of Maavilaru, Kadjuwatte […]

COLOMBO, Nov 5 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military and Tamil Tiger rebels are again accusing each other of gearing up for war after peace talks collapsed in Switzerland, with analysts saying an upsurge in violence is inevitable.The government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) failed a week ago to buy time for […]

COLOMBO, Nov 4 (AFP) – A powerful Claymore mine exploded in northeastern Sri Lanka Saturday, killing two sailors, military officials said.The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) set off the surface mounted mine at Nilaveli, a former popular tourist spot, as sailors were on a foot patrol, a local official said. “One died on […]

Nov 3, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s defence ministry said Friday the Tamil Tiger rebels were gearing up for a major offensive following the latest peace talks failure and ahead of their leader’s birthday later this month.The ministry said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had stepped up artillery and mortar attacks against security […]

Nov 3, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lankan war planes pounded suspected Tamil Tiger targets for a third straight day Friday after the defence ministry charged that the guerrillas were preparing for a major offensive Sri Lanka’s defence ministry said supersonic jets hit two locations of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the eastern […]

Nov 2, 2006 (AFP) – A soldier was killed and two injured as Sri Lankan troops and Tamil rebels traded fire across a de facto front line in the embattled Jaffna peninsula Thursday, the defence ministry said.The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) sparked the battle and security forces retaliated in kind, the ministry […]

Nov 2, 2006 (AFP) – At least five people were killed Thursday when Sri Lankan war planes bombed a house near the main hospital inside rebel-held territory in Kilinochchi, Tiger guerrillas said. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said Israeli-built jets carried out two sorties over the town of Kilinochchi and the blasts […]

Nov 1, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s military Wednesday accused Tamil Tiger rebels of carrying out artillery and mortar attacks against government lines in the east of the island, despite a pledge to stick to a truce.A military spokesman said a government soldier was hurt overnight Tuesday in three hours of strikes by the Liberation […]

Oct 31, 2006 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government said Tuesday that it was only willing to open a crucial highway linking the northern Jaffna peninusla and the south of the island if Tamil Tiger rebels gave up violence.The conflict in Sri Lanka is Asia’s longest and bloodiest separatist war, claiming over 60,000 lives since the […]

Oct 31, 2006 (AFP) – At least five people were reported killed and six others injured in separate clashes Tuesday between Tamil rebels and government troops in north and east Sri Lanka, defence officials said.A soldier was killed and three others injured when a mine exploded on a truck carrying troops for leave in the […]