One soldier killed, 2 injured in Sri Lanka

One soldier was killed and two others were injured in two separate attacks carried out by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka's north on Monday, said defense officials.

The Media Center for National Security said in a statement that Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels attacked a route clearing patrol with small arms in Vavunia, killing one soldier and injuring another.

"Since the incident took place in a crowded area, troops did not retaliate," the statement said.

In nearby Mannar district, the LTTE targeted a claymore mine explosion at naval troops on patrol, injuring one sailor.

The attacks came one day after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse vowed to continue his effort to solve the country's long drawn-out ethnic issue.

Addressing the island's 59th anniversary of independence on Sunday, the president said "we are not ready to give into blood thirsty demands of the LTTE, but we must undertake the urgent task of establishing democratic governance in the north and east."

Rajapakse stressed that he and his troops have the capability to "respond to the terror in the best language they understand."

Rajapakse became president in November 2005 and almost immediately thereafter the LTTE stepped up its military campaign targeting members of the security forces.

Over 67,000 people have been killed in the armed struggle waged by the LTTE on behalf of the Tamil minority since the mid-1980s, with nearly 4,000 of them being killed since December 2005.

Source: Xinhua