*Tigers fire at ship carrying supplies to civilian safety zone

Contrary to reports of an imminent US-spearheaded effort to mount an amphibious operation to evacuate civilians in the LTTE held area, now down to about 45 sq. km., authoritative military officials asserted that such an intervention seemed unlikely at the moment.

Responding to The Island queries, officials said that unless the US reached an agreement with the LTTE for the evacuation, troops engaged in the operation would come under LTTE fire. A large scale rescue mission would involve thousands of troops landing within the civilian safety zone on the north-east coast, they said. As the 20 sq. km. civilian safety zone is under LTTE control, foreign troops would definitely face resistance, they said.

According to media reports, a marine expeditionary force of the US Pacific Command would land in Mullaitivu to carry out the evacuation. The LTTE still controls a 15 km stretch of Mullaitivu beach with 55 and 59 Divisions positioned north and south of the civilian safety zone.

The 55 Division is operating at Puthumathalan north after having pierced an earth bund.

A military official told The Island that an attempt to carry out what he called a forced evacuation would cause clashes between foreign troops and the LTTE. "Would they be prepared to take casualties?" he asked, emphasising the urgent need to finish off Tigers. As long as they held on to their guns, the civilians wouldn’t be safe, he said.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told The Island that the Army hadn’t entered the civilian safety zone. Placing the total number of civilians who had reached government held areas in Vavuniya, Mannar and Jaffna this year over 38,000, he estimated the number of people trapped in the 45 sq. km area less than 70,000.During a recent visit to Vavuniya Security Forces headquarters, Army chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka directed his ground commanders to be mindful of the presence of civilians in the area of operations.

Presidential advisor Basil Rajapaksa, MP, said that the number of people trapped there had been grossly exaggerated by various people.

Amid heavy fighting on the eastern flank, civilians continued to escape in large numbers and seek protection from the army. Army headquarters said that 45 civilians reached the army operating in Puthukkudiyiruppu east. Among them were a 17-year-old girl wounded by LTTE fire as she fled the war zone, the army said. Altogether 144 men, women and children had reached Army lines on Sunday.

The LTTE yesterday directed artillery fire at MV Bintan carrying essential items to the people in the civilian safety zone. The military said that the vessel had been anchored off Puthumathalan at the firing.

The 500 metric tons of supplies included 399 tons of flour, 61 tons of dhal, kerosene, 20 tons of sugar and 21 tons of vegetable oil.