Sri Lanka military says fifth rebel runway captured

Colombo: The Sri Lankan military says it has captured a fifth runway used by the Tamil Tigers' small air wing.

Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said on Thursday that government troops discovered and captured the runway as they pushed ahead with their offensive against the rebels in the northeastern jungles.

The Tamil Tigers have repeatedly embarrassed the government by sending its small planes on air raids into government-held territory. The rebels have bombed the airport, a power station in the capital and an air base in the north.