Lankan troops tighten grip over LTTE territory

Fresh from their takeover of LTTE capital of Kilinochchi, Sri Lankan troops yesterday entered a key town on the road to the last remaining rebel stronghold Mullaittivu, the army said, asserting that the operation to capture the elusive Tamil Tiger supremo was on track.

Following day-long fighting, troops entered the strategically vital Oddusud-dan town, the military said. The junction had been used by the LTTE for administrative and logistic purposes as it has direct route access towards Mullaittivu.

Troops were engaged in further consolidating operations in north and west of Oddusudan, it said. MI-24 helicopter gunships of the Sri Lanka Air Force also carried out airstrikes targeting LTTE gathering places in northeast of Kilinochchi.