The number of civilians killed in two days of heavy shelling of rebel-held areas of Sri Lanka's northeast rose to 41, the Tamil Tiger rebels said Sunday. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said 19 civilians were killed Sunday and that the number killed in Saturday's shelling had risen to 22, with several of the wounded succumbing to their injuries.
"The number of civilians killed in yesterday's shelling also rose to 22, taking the total civilian death toll over the two days to 41," the LTTE said in a statement accusing the military of shelling the Vakarai area.
The military has denied hitting civilians and accused the rebels of killing four people, including two children, while attacking a school in the island's northeast on Thursday.
The military said 12 soldiers were killed in Sunday's artillery exchanges while the Tamil Tigers placed their fatalities at three.