By IANS
Colombo : S.P. Thamilchelvan, leader of the Tamil Tigers’ political wing, was killed Friday in an attack by the Sri Lankan Air Force in the country’s rebel-held north, the rebels said.
The pro-rebel TamilNet web site said the bombing that took place at 6 a.m. in Kilinochchi, 370 km north of Colombo, also killed five military leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (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.
Thamilchelvan began his career as a member of the LTTE military wing. He later became a political leader assisting in negotiations with the Sri Lankan government and was a trusted aide to the group’s chief, Velupillai Prabhakaran.