At least 52 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam cadres and five soldiers were killed as heavy fighting raged today for control of the key Northern Sri Lankan city of Killinochchi, with government forces pressing fighter aircraft to pound Tiger bunkers on the outskirts. Fighter jets went into action on Wednesday morning hitting LTTE [Images] bunkers and other concentrations on the town's periphery in two air raids, air force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.
He said the jets targeted the LTTE heavy vehicles summoned to the location to drag away the damaged earth moving vehicles which tigers were using for constructing new defences.
In ground clashes, troops in Killinochchi front gained further ground in Vannerikulam on Tuesday with the defence ministry stating that 10 LTTE cadres were killed and six others wounded in the incident.
The ministry said four soldiers also lost their lives in these confrontations.
During the afternoon hours on Tuesday, troops had three separate confrontations in the Vannerikkulam area and reported killing three tiger rebels while causing injuries to six soldiers.
The government forces are advancing into Killinochchi in several pincers and are reported to be just two to three km from the town.
Another Lankan task Force hit the LTTE concentration areas nearby Madamoddai on Tuesday, the ministry said adding 10 tiger cadres were killed and many others injured.
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