UN convoy brings food to region controlled by Tigers, under attack
Colombo (AsiaNews) - A United Nations convoy bringing food for 200,000 people has entered the combat zone in northern Sri Lanka, on the same day on which the army has announced that it has bombed the general headquarters of the Tamil Tiger rebels. The LTTE have confirmed the air attack, during which, they say, two civilians were killed.
The 51-vehicle United Nations convoy crossed the Omanthai checkpoint in the north, the beginning of the area controlled by the Tigers. It is bringing food to four areas in Kilinochchi, in the far north. The convoy was originally made up of 60 trucks, but was reduced because the military says that contraband and explosives were found on nine of the vehicles. The UN has condemned "the attempt by persons unknown to disrupt the aid effort" by placing illegal cargo on trucks provided by the government.
This morning, the spokesman of the defense ministry in Colombo, Udaya Nanayakkara, announced the killing of 42 Tamil Tiger fighters, and the wounding of another 53, during the current offensive that is said to have brought the troops to within a few kilometers from Kilinochchi. The offensive is said to have cost the lives of two soldiers, and another 20 are reported wounded. According to the same source, the LTTE have lost 7,158 fighters since January, and the army, 697 soldiers.
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