COLOMBO, Oct 6, Reuters: Eight people were killed in clashes between Indian Soldiers and Tamil Separatist Rebels bent on disrupting election preparations in Northern Sri Lanka, military sources said on Thursday.
They said three soldiers and three guerrillas died in a clash at Villuthotem in Northern Central province on Wednesday.
A Rebel was killed in the northern wanni area and a civilian died in crossfire in Jaffna on Wednesday, the sources said.
In Eastern Trincomalee, Rebels exploded a landmine under a military vehicle, injuring six Indian soldiers.
The sources said the main rebel group, The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was trying to hinder preparations for a regional council election for Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka.
The setting up of a semiautonomous council in the Tamil dominated region is a key element in last year’s pact between Sri Lanka and India aimed at ending the Tamil revolt.
The LTTE has rejected the pact and has warned election officials not to accept nomination papers.
Officials said some government offices which should have received nomination papers were closed because of rebel threats.
About 52,000 Indian peacekeeping troops are based in Sri Lanka under the terms of the Pact.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 14, 1988
