2ND LEAD
Tigers recover 10 SLA bodies after preemptive strike in Ki'linochchi, 40 killed
TamilNet, Saturday, 20 December 2008, 16:03 GMT
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) counter-offensive units carried out a preemptive strike on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) offensive formation in Mu'rika'ndi - Ira'naimadu area Saturday, killing 40 SLA soldiers, LTTE officials told TamilNet. The SLA was pushed back 2 km and the Tigers said they have recovered 10 dead bodies of SLA soldiers so far in the clearing mission.
The preemptive strike was carried out as the SLA was preparing for another offensive push, according to LTTE officials.
The first LTTE-claimed preemptive strike comes in the wake of SLA suffering three debacles within the last few weeks in Ki'linochchi.