zhou@tufts.osu-cis.edu (News mailer) (08/06/90)
Colombo (AFP, 04 Aug.), Guerrillas of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) gunned down about 100 muslims gathered for prayers in two mosques in Eastern SriLanka late Friday, military officials said here Saturday. About 30 armed guerrilas entered the mosques in the village of Kathankudy in the Batticaloa district and sprayed bullets at the worshippers gathered for weekly prayers. Spokesman for the SriLanka Moslem Congress (SLMC) which is based in the East, said that according to the latest count 140 people were killed in the attack. "This is a brutal massacre of innocent civilians by the Tiger (LTTE) terrorists who do not hesistate to enter mosques and kill civilians" said Mohammad Ashroff of the SLMC. Military officials, who cannot be identified under briefing rules, said the rebels wore fez caps and civilian clothes to avoid arousing suspicion. About 30 rebels divided themselves into two groups to launch the almost simultaneous attacks on the Meera Juma and the Husseina Thaik mosques, said the officials. The gunmen turned off the lights before opening fire, they said. The rebels escaped on boats from the Batticalo lagoon. On July 24, Tigers killed 4 moslems at another mosque in Batticaloa. The Tamil rebels stopped three buses near the Kalmunai town, on July 13, and killed at least 35 moslem passengers. Evidence of the carnage was apparent Saturday when the government flew reporters to the area. The floor of the mosque was splattered with blood and the walls pockmarked with bullet holes.