By IANS
Colombo : S.P. Thamilchelvan, a top Tamil Tiger leader, was killed Friday in an air raid by the Sri Lankan Air Force in the country’s rebel-held north, the rebels said.
Thamilchelvan headed the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and was a trusted aide to the group’s chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
The pro-rebel TamilNet web site said the bombing that took place in Kilinochchi at 6 a.m. also killed five military leaders of the LTTE.
The LTTE posthumously awarded the highest rank of Brigadier to Thamilchelvan and said it was “conveying the loss … with profound sadness to the people of Tamil Eelam, the Tamil diaspora and the global community.
“The Sri Lanka Air Force attack has targeted the residence of the members of the political division,” it added.
The others who died Friday were identified as Lt Col Anpumani (Alex), Maj Mikuthan, Capt Neathaji, Lt Aadchiveal and Lt Vaakaikkumaran.