July 07, 2008	Monday	Rajab 3, 1429

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers on Sunday commemorated 356 men and women who have staged suicide attacks since the tactic was first used by the rebels 21 years ago.

The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they held ceremonies in guerrilla-held Wanni region on Saturday to mark the 21st anniversary of the first suicide truck bombing by a cadre known as Captain Miller.

The elusive Tiger supremo, Velupillai Prabhakaran, 53, led the remembrance ceremonies at an undisclosed location with the participation of his elite “Black Tiger” suicide cadres, the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com web site reported.

“Three hundred and fifty six Black Tigers have laid down their lives, 254 of them in sea operations, during the last 21 years since,” Tamilnet said. Last year, the Tigers commemorated 322 suicide bombers who perished in attacks.

Although not credited with starting the lethal method, the Black Tigers have staged some of the world’s most brazen attacks and are described as the most effective unit of its type anywhere in the world.—AFP