Sri Lanka troops recover suspected Tamil Tiger munitions

May 9, 2006 (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops recovered Tuesday seven Claymore mines, guns and a large quantity of ammunition belonging to Tamil Tiger guerrillas, the defence ministry said.









The mines weighing 70 kilos (154 pounds) were found in the northern Jaffna peninsula together with two automatic assault rifles, hand grenades and remote-controlled detonating devices, the ministry said in a statement.

"The lethal Claymore mines, arms and ammunition were believed to have been brought to the location by the Tamil Tiger terrorists with a view to committing criminal acts against security forces," it said.

The ministry said troops also found three guns and a large stock of ammunition during a search operation in the Kantale area of the island's eastern Trincomalee district.

Government forces and Tamil Tigers have been observing a ceasefire since February 2002, but violence has escalated over the past few months.

- Amal Jayasinghe