Jets bomb Tigers' naval headquarters

Colombo: Sri Lankan air force jets bombed the Tamil Tiger rebels' naval headquarters on Saturday as the group's powerful sea wing leader was holding a meeting, the military said.

The air force targeted the base near Puthukudiyiruppu village in rebel-held Mullaitivu district, a defence official said on condition of anonymity, citing government rules.

Pilots confirmed hitting the compound but did not provide details about the fate of the rebel naval leader known as Soosai, he said.

Soosai is a powerful leader in the rebel group and is deemed close to the outfit's reclusive leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. There was no immediate comment from the rebels.

Meanwhile, a series of gunbattles between soldiers and separatist Tamil Tigers across Sri Lanka's embattled north killed 17 guerrillas and one soldier, the military said.

Fighting raged along the front lines in Vavuniya district, just south of the rebels' de facto state in the north, throughout Friday, leaving 13 Tamil Tigers dead, said a defence ministry official.

Separate clashes in nearby Mannar district killed four insurgents and one soldier, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

There was no immediate comment from the rebels.

It was not possible to independently verify the military's claims because the fighting took place deep in the northern jungles, where access is restricted. Both sides often release inflated casualty figures for their opponents while lowering their own.

Violence has intensified in the Indian Ocean island nation since the government officially withdrew this month from a six-year-old ceasefire.