World | Other World Stories
Tamil Tigers launch air strike in Sri Lanka
Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said the Tamil Tiger rebel plane dropped three bombs near Sri Lankan forces in the Welioya region but no soldiers were hurt.
- AP
- Published: 00:05 April 28, 2008
- Soldiers move through a newly captured area near a centuries old Catholic church in Madhu in the northwest of Sri Lanka.
- Image Credit: Reuters
Colombo: Sri Lanka's separatist rebels used light aircraft to bomb an army defence line in the island's war-torn north early yesterday, hours after fierce clashes killed 42 combatants, the military said.
Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said the Tamil Tiger rebel plane dropped three bombs near Sri Lankan forces in the Welioya region but no soldiers were hurt.
Troops and insurgents engaged in ferocious fighting along the front lines of Welioya killing 22 insurgents and seven soldiers, Nanayakkara said. One soldier was missing.
More killings
Separate clashes Saturday along the northern Jaffna, Mannar and Vavuniya fronts killed 13 more rebels, he said.
It was the first attack by the rebels' air wing - made up of a few self-assembled light aircraft -since it helped insurgents on the ground attack a government air force base last October. The government lost eight planes in that assault.
Nanayakkara said two rebel aircraft were spotted on the radar and ground troops fired at them with anti-aircraft guns. An air force plane also chased the Tiger bomber but it escaped, he said.
On Saturday, Sri Lankan fighter jets pounded a rebel artillery position in Welioya, the military said in a statement.
Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan was not immediately available for comment yesterday.
Meanwhile, police said they arrested nine suspects in connection with a bus bombing that killed 26 passengers outside Sri Lanka's capital on Friday.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the blast proved the Tamil Tiger separatists were facing growing pressure on the battlefield in the north.
"The terrorists had once again resorted to killing innocent civilians in the face of heavy setbacks on the battlefield," Rajapaksa said.
Share this article
News Editor's choice
-
Daughters: Book on Sadat 'one-sided'
Pictorial collection excludes children from first wife
-
Over 6,000 Haj pilgrims to get vaccines
H1N1 and meningitis jabs compulsory for those going to Makkah in Saudi Arabia
-
Abu Dhabi residential city on track
Abu Dhabi Municipality says Dh651m infrastructure project to be completed
