The Sri Lankan Army is now in full control of more than two thirds of Puthumattalan, where most of the civilians are concentrated.
The army has officially redefined the new safety zone, restricting it to an area of some two km in length and 1.5 km in width. This modification matches the situation on the ground where apparently most of the civilians live.
Now the LTTE, who are using the remaining civilians as human shields, are effectively restricted to a three sq km area.
However, army continued heavy shelling with cluster-munitions on civilian targets within the so-called safety zone throughout Thursday and Friday. Several civilians have been killed and many sustained injuries.
Medical sources reported that 45 of the wounded, including 15 children, had succumbed to injuries adding that scores were killed and that those killed on the spot were not brought to hospital.
The Sri Lankan army sources say fierce close quarter combat is on in the war zone for the past 48 hours and 35 LTTE cadres have been killed.
The troops have recovered 33 AK-56 rifles and two light machine guns besides an excavator believed to be used by the Tigers to build earth bunds.
