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Tamil Tigers launch gas attack

Lankan army claims major success

AFP, PTI, Colombo
Troops and Tamil Tiger rebels were locked in intense fighting in northern Sri Lanka yesterday after government forces smashed through the "last major defences" of the guerrillas, the military said.
The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched "poisonous gas attacks" to blunt the military offensive aimed at capturing the rebels' political capital of Kilinochchi, the defence ministry said in a statement.
Soldiers stepped up their offensive on Saturday and captured a two-kilometre (1.25-mile) stretch of the defence line set up by the Tigers near Kilinochchi, the ministry said.
It said the fighting was at Akkarayankulam, about 13 kilometres southwest of Kilinochchi. Three weeks ago, the military had said it was within striking distance ofKilinochchi.
"Army's 57 division troops yesterday pierced the LTTE-built earth bund in Akkarayankulam, the terrorists' last major defence
south of Kilinochchi," the defence ministry said in a statement
It said the Tigers "launched poisonous gas attacks" on the troops. Military sources said that the Tigers had used a type of tear gas commonly used during riot control.
"However, troops withstood the chemical attack and beat off the terrorists," the ministry said.
It gave no details of casualties for both sides, but added: "Several soldiers made their ultimate sacrifice for the nation while many others suffered injuries during this battle."
There was no immediate comment from theTigers.
In separate statement, the ministry said soldiers along two other fronts in the north of the island had also stepped up attacks against Tamil Tiger positions over the weekend.
Soldiers had encircled a sea base of the Tamil Tigers along the northwest coast while troops on the other side of the island in northeastern Mullaitivu had also
SEE PAGE 15 COL 8 stepped up attacks, the ministry said.
"Ttoops also suffered casualties during those confrontations and were being evacuated for treatment, " the statement said.
Government soldiers fell victim to booby-trapped devices, antipersonnel mines and mortar fire, the ministry said.
"Battlefield sources confirmed that the terrorists suffered significant attrition in terms of men and material," the ministry said.
Claiming that the LTTE was on the verge of "defeat" after suffering huge casualties at the hands of Sri Lankan security forces, the government has said that the Tamil tigers are making desperate efforts to rope in Indian leaders to stop the ongoing offensives against them.
It is very clear that the LTTE is at a decisive stage. And no one can stop them getting defeated. So, they are trying their maximum to get Tamil Nadu (leaders) to pressurise the Indian government to pressurise the Sri Lankan government," Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Cowerful defence secretary and rother of Sri Lankan President
Mahinda Rajapaksa, said.
"That is what the LI l b want and that is why this sudden pressure is coming. The (Sri Lankan) government expects this situation as we know there is no other way for the LTTE. Anyway, the LTTE cannot escape facing military offensives now, he said.
Military officials said both sides continued to trade gunfire and loug-range attacks throughout the weekend, but monsoon rains had left heavy weapons ineffective.
Neither side could also use trenches for cover as most were flooded with rain water.
The Sri Lankan government pulled out of a Norwegian-backed truce with the rebels in January.
Tens of thousands of people have died on both sides since tire LTTE launched its campaign for an independentstatein 1972.