Sri Lanka gov't rejects Tigers' claim of military action

The Sri Lankan government Wednesday denied rebels' accusation that it was launching a major military offensive in the northern Jaffna peninsula as heavy fighting broke out since 6:00 a.m. (0030 GMT).

Defense Ministry spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said it was just a retaliatory action.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels in a statement said the military launches large scale offensives along the northern border.

"From 6 a.m. this morning the Sri Lankan military is attempting to move forward into the LTTE area along the northern frontlines at Muhamalai, Kilali and Nagarkovil. Intense clashes going on at the moment," said the statement.

The spokesman, however, said "we are only taking retaliatory action. The LTTE over the last three to four days have been firing at us in Muhamalai and Nagarkovil areas."

Military sources said the Air Force and the Navy were also involved in the military action.

The latest clashes between the government forces and the LTTE erupted as the rebels told the Norwegian peace facilitators on Tuesday evening that they would be ready to have face to face talks with the government on Oct. 28 and 29 in Switzerland.

The LTTE said in the statement that they had warned the Norwegians that all military offensives by the government must cease if they want the LTTE to attend the late October talks.

The LTTE has been charging the military for planning a major offensive in the north after heavy fighting broke out between the two sides in mid-August.

The fighting was the worst since the February 2002 ceasefire came into force. Pleas by the international community on both sides to return to the process of negotiations have been of no avail.

Both sides accuse each other of launching military actions. More than 200,000 civilians were displaced by the battles in the north and east.

Source: Xinhua