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S Lanka 'shoots down rebel plane' S Lanka 'shoots down rebel plane'
(about 2 hours later)
The Sri Lankan air force has said it has shot down an aircraft belonging to the rebel Tamil Tigers. Sri Lanka's air force has shot down a plane belonging to the rebel Tamil Tigers, military officials have said.
The air force said the aircraft was intercepted by fighter jets after it attempted to bomb a military airfield in the north of the island. If confirmed, it would be the first rebel plane downed by the military.
This is the first time the Sri Lankan military has shot down a rebel plane. The aircraft was intercepted by fighter jets after it and another rebel plane bombed a military airfield in the north of the island, the air force said.
The Tamil Tigers carried out their first air raid in March last year, with a surprise attack on an air base on the outskirts of the capital, Colombo. A rebel artillery strike and ground assault on the air base killed 10 soldiers, 10 rebels and one policeman, the ministry of defence said.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate state for the Tamil minority in the north and east of Sri Lanka for 25 years. More than 70,000 people have died. The Tamil Tigers said they had no information that one of their planes was shot down.
The ministry of defence said 15 soldiers, five air force personnel and eight police were also wounded in the attack on the air base at Vavuniya, near the frontline in north-eastern Sri Lanka.
Government offensiveGovernment offensive
Air force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said its aircraft had intercepted two Tamil Tiger planes over the north-east of the island after they tried to bomb an air base in Vavuniya. The air force said the light aircraft used by the Tamil Tigers was shot down over thick jungle near Mullaittivu, in rebel-held territory.
The unsuccessful bombing raid was accompanied by a rebel artillery strike, he said. The Tigers' rudimentary air force began operations last year with a surprise attack on an air base on the outskirts of the capital, Colombo.
The Tamil Tiger aircraft have improvised bomb racks Tamil Tigers unveil latest tacticThe Tamil Tiger aircraft have improvised bomb racks Tamil Tigers unveil latest tactic
An air force jet successfully hit one of the rebel planes with an air-to-air missile, and it went down into thick jungle near the rebel-controlled port of Mullaittivu, he added.
It is the first time the military has said it has managed to destroy a Tamil Tiger plane since the group launched its first raid in March last year, on an air force base next to capital's international airport.
The last successful rebel attack took place on the strategic eastern port of Trincomalee in August, when 10 sailors were wounded.The last successful rebel attack took place on the strategic eastern port of Trincomalee in August, when 10 sailors were wounded.
The Tamil Tigers have a number of small Czech-built, two-seater, propeller-driven Zlin-143 aircraft, which are operated from jungle airstrips.The Tamil Tigers have a number of small Czech-built, two-seater, propeller-driven Zlin-143 aircraft, which are operated from jungle airstrips.
They are thought to have been smuggled into the island in pieces, then reassembled and modified to carry bombs.They are thought to have been smuggled into the island in pieces, then reassembled and modified to carry bombs.
The aerial battle comes as the government forces continue a major offensive against the rebels in northern areas of the island.The aerial battle comes as the government forces continue a major offensive against the rebels in northern areas of the island.
On Monday, the government ordered all aid workers out of the battle zone, saying it could not guarantee their safety.On Monday, the government ordered all aid workers out of the battle zone, saying it could not guarantee their safety.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate state for the Tamil minority in the north and east of Sri Lanka for 25 years. More than 70,000 people have died.