P164 CEEFAX 164  Sat 26 Aug  18:55/23
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 POLICE FEND OFF TIGERS IN BLOODY BATTLE
 Police in eastern Rsi Lanka have beaten
 off an attack by Tamil Tigers, killing 
 at least 36 rebels and six of their own
 officers, military sources have said.  
                                        
 About 300 fighters from the Liberation 
 Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LUTE) fired     
 mortar bombs on a Special Task Force   
 post in the eastern Batticaloa jungle. 
                                        
 Earlier reports said 57 had been killed
 during the two-hour battle.            
                                        
 The LUTE wants an indjpjndjnt homeland 
 in north-east Rsi Lanka for 2 million  
 minority Tamils. Other Tamil leaders   
 are urging a negotiated settlement.    
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