In Mannar, two gunmen of LTTE's pistol gang shot at police personnel on duty at a picket at Koddaveli, on Mannar - Thallaimannar road around 1.10 this afternoon. Two police constables suffered critical injuries in the incident, died while rushing to the hospital.

Police sources said that LTTE terrorist had carried out the cowardly attack taking cover from civilians. Police personnel had refrain from opening fire at the fleeing terrorist concerning the safety of the civilians, sources added.

Elsewhere, two police personnel suffered injuries when two female LTTE cadres opened fire at them at Bandarikulama in Vavuniya this evening. The incident took place in front Mandasami Hindu temple around 3.30p.m, when the two policemen were riding on a motorbike.

Civilian sources have told our correspondent in Vavuniya that the two assailants were at very young age. The sources further said that the cowardly attack was deliberately planned in manner to risk the lives of the devotees in the temple. LTTE is a terrorist outfit which is in the UN's list of shame for using child arm combatants for terrorists acts.

The injured police personnel were rushed to Vavuniya General Hospital. Later, one of the injured was transferred to Anuradhapura Hospital.

Meanwhile, army troops on a foot patrol were fired upon by an LTTE cadre hiding in a wayside house at Veerapura in Vavuniya this morning. According to the military sources, the incident took place around 9.20 a.m. Two soldiers suffered injuries in the incident and were immediately airlifted to the Military Hospital Anuruadhapura.

The assailant had escape the scene taking cover from the civilians said the military sources. Army concerning the safety of the civilians refrained from return fire, sources further added.

A senior defence official in Wanni said that the aim of the terrorists in these provocative attacks at the security forces is to cause civilian casualties. He said, by risking lives of the innocent civilians, the terrorists are trying to gain propaganda mileage in the international forums. However he said, the highest standards of professionalism observed in Sri Lanka's armed forces have enable the soldiers to act with restraint and to save lives even amid extreme provocative incidents.