LTTE says 'other elements' in the south might have killed civilians

In an exclusive interview with BBC Sandeshaya, head of LTTE political wing, Balasingham Nadesan, denied any knowledge of killing civilians in the south.

In the first ever interview in Sinhala since being appointed as the head of the political wing, he told BBC’s Chandana Keerthi Bandara that "many other elements" are operating in the south.

Attacks on civilians

Dozens of civilians were killed and hundreds more sustained injuries in bomb attacks on civilian targets in the south in recent weeks.

The government accused the Tamil Tigers of deliberately targetting civilians.

	President challenged the LTTE to 'catch him' instead of civilians

Having vowed to continue with the war until he defeats the LTTE, President Rajapaksa recently told the LTTE to "catch him" personally than targeting the civilians.

“You cannot resolve the Tamil ethnic issue by killing the president or innocent civilians,” Mr. Nadesan told BBCSinhala.com.

The LTTE, for their part, accused the Sri Lanka military of targeting civilians in rebel-held areas.

Pulithevan 'under arrest'

“The deep penetration unit (DPU) of Sri Lankan military has targeted innocent civilians while they were going for pilgrims,” B Nadesan said on an incident where six civilians were reportedly killed on Monday.

The LTTE, he added, is trying their ‘best’ to capture the DPU members of Sri Lanka military.

	Mr. Pulithevan says reports of his arrest are 'fabricated'

LTTE’s political wing chief said it is the responsibility of the government to initiate a fresh dialogue in finding a political solution.

Accusing the government of launching military offensives against the LTTE, he denied that the LTTE is being defeated by the military in the battles in the north.

“That is a fabricated story. If you ask the military commanders unofficially, they will tell you the true story,” B Nadesan said.

He categorically denied media reports that head of LTTE peace secretariat, Seevarathnam Pulithevan, is arrested by the rebel leadership.

Speaking with BBC Sandeshaya, Mr. Pulithevan accused Sri Lanka military of ‘fabricating stories when they cannot achieve military victories’.