As UNICEF-funded scheme to demob child fighters gets underway

The LTTE abducted at least 24 persons including several students at Valaichchenai on Saturday, a day after a UNICEF funded scheme to demobilise forcibly conscripted child soldiers got underway in Kilinochchi.

"We believe at least eight students were among the abducted. They were taken in and around Valaichchenai in the government-held area in the evening," an authoritative army official told The Island.

The Batticaloa office of the Scandinavian ceasefire monitors has been informed of the latest bout of abductions.

Hundreds of students and their parents on Monday protested outside a government school at Valaichchenai. They urged the truce monitors to intervene.

The LTTE on Friday handed over 49 child soldiers to the UNICEF in Kilinochchi. The LTTE leadership has repeatedly denied any knowledge of abductions taking place in government-held areas in the north-east. (SF)