LTTE accuses Army of initiating clashes

Denying that it has deployed arms around the historic Madhu Church in north-western Mannar, the LTTE has accused the Sri Lankan Army of initiating clashes within the premises of the famous Christian place of worship.

The Sri Lankan Army (SLA), it alleged, "makes false accusations" by reporting that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has deployed its guns near the 400-year-old church.

"The LTTE Operational HQ, Mannar, denies that baseless allegations and points out that LTTE has guns of enough ability to fire from quite some distance and better places to position them," the LTTE said in a statement last night.

The rebel outfit claimed it had never violated the rules of the church and "anyone with simple military knowledge would see the tactlessness of deploying guns in a public place".

The Sri Lankan military has alleged that the LTTE fired mortar bombs inside the church premises on Tuesday.

The Bishop of Mannar, Rev Rayappu Joseph, meanwhile said he had "successfully" appealed to the LTTE not to deploy arms around the Mannar church, media reports said.

He prayed for calm and peace during a function in Mannar, where Christians took out a march earlier this week to urge protection for the shrine.

The LTTE statement claimed that its forces had successfully repelled "the Sri Lankan Army advances and had found warlike materials including RPG launchers left behind by the Sri Lankan security forces".

Sources: Hindu