LTTE spokesman may have been killed

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, March 13 (UPI) -- A military spokesman for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka has been killed by the militant group, Tamil sources said Friday.

Sources inside the militant organization said military spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan was killed after being accused of plotting against his fellow militants and working with Sri Lankan intelligence, ColomboPage said.

A January report had Ilanthirayan being apprehended by LTTE troops while attempting to surrender to Sri Lankan government forces.

During the last month, rumors have been spread that Ilanthirayan had been killed for his actions, ColomboPage said.

Ilanthirayan hasn't offered a media statement as LTTE spokesman since late 2008, when government forces began a major offensive against the militant group.

That military effort by the Sri Lankan army has led to a series of significant losses by the rebel group this year.