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5 LTTE suicide bombers killed in Colombo

Five members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam committed suicide early Saturday after an overnight gun battle with security forces, which followed a botched ambush on a VIP motorcade.

The incident occurred at Borella in South Colombo where the tigers had taken shelter.

Holding automatic weapons and wearing suicide jackets, the terrorists entered a four-storey flat. The panic-stricken residents remained indoors while the five took position on the staircase and fired at the forces. The army surrounded the building and retaliated.

Residents said the battle continued throughout the night. As it was pitch dark, and fearing for the lives of civilians in the flat, the security forces could not do much.

At dawn the police used teargas to flush the tigers out. As they had by then run out of ammunition, they took the extreme step.

At least six security personnel and two civilians were injured in the battle that lasted for more than 12 hours.

A police officer said the gang were on a suicide mission to kill a VIP. Informed sources said their target was Deputy Defence Minister Aniruddha Ratawatte.

UNI

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