75 Soldiers Killed in Vanni - TamilNet

The pro-LTTE website, TamilNet has reported that up to 75 soldiers were killed in the general areas of Naachchikkudaa and Vannearikku'lam in the Killinochchi district. According the reports the soldiers were killed when the they attempted to advance toward Killinochchi. The defence ministry, however, has thus far not reported any casualties in the said regions but claimed to have captured the strategic town Mallavi which was said to have been the administrative "nerve center" of the LTTE. While independent verification is not possible as journalists are barred from the front lines, the defence ministry has released photographs of troops occupying Mallavi center. TamilNet also published pictures of what appears to be 6 bodies of soldiers killed in battle.