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COLOMBO, Aug 5: The Sri Lankan military said on Saturday that over 100 Muslim civilians who had purportedly helped troops discover hideouts of the Tamil Tigers in Muttur had been massacred by the guerillas.
“According to the information we have received the LTTE is responsible for these deaths. It is the civilians who have told us this,” military spokesman Major Upali Rajapakse said.
However, President Mahinda Rajapakse in a television interview said there was ‘no official confirmation’ that the LTTE had massacred the Muslims.
TOWN RECAPTURED: The Sri Lankan military on Saturday claimed capturing the mainly Muslim town of Muttur in an offensive against the Tamil Tigers that left 300 of the guerillas dead.
A spokesman said the military had repulsed LTTE attacks from the sea and land.
However, an LTTE statement denied the government’s claim, saying that the guerillas had withdrawn to their ‘original positions’ after vacating Muttur as they had achieved their objectives.
“Our objective of the mission, with a defensive character, was accomplished. The speedy operation was brought to an end as most of the targets were overrun,” the statement said.
A six-day battle in Muttur left stranded 20,000 Muslims who left their homes to escape the fighting. Thirty five people were killed and almost 100 injured.
