LTTE tried to buy nuclear weapons: Report

Colombo: In a startling disclosure, the detained LTTE chief Kumaran Pathmanathan has told investigators that the rebels had tried to acquire nuclear weapons and know-how to be used against the Sri Lankan Army.

A media report has said that Pathmanathan who was recently arrested in a South East Asian country has told interrogators that his organisation had tried to acquire nuclear weapons and technology from Western countries.

"LTTE had been the first terrorist outfit that had tried to obtain nuclear power. Had they been successful in obtaining nuclear power, it would have flowed into the hands of other terror organisations too", the Nation newspaper said quoting military analysts.

"KP has revealed that the arms purchased with the money collected were shipped to the LTTE. How he purchased anti-aircraft missiles from arms dealers in the USA has been disclosed", the newspaper said.

Meanwhile, the former commander of LTTE Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran and Cabinet minister in the Sri Lankan government, Karuna Amman say it may be difficult to find a successor to KP.

"They (LTTE) can't do anything because all international networks were controlled by KP himself", Amman said.

"Because after the LTTE was defeated and Prabhakaran was killed, Kumaran Padmanathan announced that he was the leader. So I am glad he is arrested and in police custody. The LTTE can never come up again", Amman said.

54-year-old Pathmanathan succeeded as LTTE chief after Vellupillai Prabhakaran was killed along with most of the top rebel leaders in May this year.

"KP was handpicked by Prabhakaran as their international liaison for arms dealing, purchasing and handling their funds.

KP is an intelligent man. He speaks many languages which is why he was chosen", Amman told the newspaper.

Bureau Report