Army headquarters yesterday said that LTTE cadres had fired at a group of civilians moving towards the army front line at Paranthan killing seven including a child on Saturday.

Quoting civilians who had managed to reach Paranthan, an official said that there had been 56 men, women and children among the group which made an attempt to flee the LTTE-held area.

Forty nine persons including two men who received gun shot injuries had managed to escape, he said.

With the 58 and 57 Divisions advancing on an easterly direction towards the north-eastern coast, people trapped in the war zone would take the opportunity to escape, he said.

The army was now approaching civilian centre east of A9, he said. (SF)