Senior LTTE leader Balakumaran severely injured in Mullaittivu

A senior leader of the Tamil Tigers has been seriously injured in an attack by advancing Sri Lankan troops, a pro-rebel website said on Thursday (Jan 29).

"A senior leader and special member of the LTTE K.V. Balakumaran was seriously injured during an attack by the Sri Lankan army at Udaiyarkattu area in Mullaittivu on Monday and is admitted to the intensive care unit," pro-LTTE puthinam.com website report said.

The Sri Lankan military is yet to comment on the report.

Balakumaran is the second senior-most leader of the LTTE to be wounded after the beginning of the current phase of fierce clashes between the government troops and the LTTE since August 2006. In November 2007, LTTE's former political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan was killed in an air raid by the Sri Lankan air force jets in Kilinochchi, which was captured by the troops in January this year after months of fierce fighting.

(Source: Sify News Agency)