Final battle in Kilinochchi (Updated 2)

(January 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The LTTE capital Kilinochchi is now being vacated as troops from the 57 converge on it from all sides. The Town is expected to fall completely into the hands of the Army shortly and it will be declared captured after clearing by tomorrow,the DefenceWire, the web blog run by the Sri Lanka Navy Intelligence has an exclusively reports in this morning.

According to the site, "meanwhile 35 Ratha Regiment elite Tigers were killed when they clashed with a Brigade from the 59 Division near the town of Oddusudan yesterday. 15 bodies of the elite cadres were recovered."

"This Brigade from the 59 has bypassed Oddusudan and is heading towards two LTTE airstrips situated South East and North West of Puthukudiirippu. Out of a total of six airstrips detected by the military, 3 are within our grasp, including the one at Iranamadu"

Meanwhile, LTTE launched a counter attack on the 571 now in control of Trincomalee Train Station, which is now being beaten back. The town of Kilinochchi is being cleared house to house. Another counter attack was launched against the 59 in the morning near oddusudan, which was also repulsed - Sri Lanka Guardian