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| Sri Lanka jets attack rebel base | Sri Lanka jets attack rebel base |
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| Sri Lankan air force jets have dropped bombs on a building which houses an intelligence headquarters of the Tamil Tiger rebels, officials said. | Sri Lankan air force jets have dropped bombs on a building which houses an intelligence headquarters of the Tamil Tiger rebels, officials said. |
| Fighter jets pounded the rebel centre in the northern region of Kilinochchi, the defence ministry said. | Fighter jets pounded the rebel centre in the northern region of Kilinochchi, the defence ministry said. |
| Contacts made by the BBC on the ground confirm the bombs fell in the area near the rebels' intelligence headquarters. | Contacts made by the BBC on the ground confirm the bombs fell in the area near the rebels' intelligence headquarters. |
| The region also houses several NGOs and aid agencies. The UN said one of its vehicles was slightly damaged. | The region also houses several NGOs and aid agencies. The UN said one of its vehicles was slightly damaged. |
| On Monday, the government issued a notice to foreign aid workers to leave the rebel-held areas in the north saying it could not guarantee their safety. | On Monday, the government issued a notice to foreign aid workers to leave the rebel-held areas in the north saying it could not guarantee their safety. |
| On Tuesday, the UN officials said they would relocate staff. | On Tuesday, the UN officials said they would relocate staff. |
| The government says that it is on track to defeat the rebels in the north. | The government says that it is on track to defeat the rebels in the north. |
| Displaced | |
| Officials said the area where the operation was carried out is deep inside rebel-held territory. | |
| "Taking on offensive raids into the LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] backyard, Sri Lanka air force fighter jets made precision air sorties at the LTTE's main intelligence command and control centre located in Kilinochchi," news agency AFP quoted the defence ministry as saying. | |
| The UN says the plight of civilians in the north is worsening | |
| The latest attack comes amid growing concern for the fate of civilians in the north after the government ordered aid agencies to leave Tamil Tiger controlled territory. | The latest attack comes amid growing concern for the fate of civilians in the north after the government ordered aid agencies to leave Tamil Tiger controlled territory. |
| On Tuesday, UN spokesman Gordon Weiss told the BBC Sinhala service that there were about 70 UN national and international workers in areas of the north controlled by the Tamil Tigers. | On Tuesday, UN spokesman Gordon Weiss told the BBC Sinhala service that there were about 70 UN national and international workers in areas of the north controlled by the Tamil Tigers. |
| He said that UN staff were mostly based in the town of Kilinochchi and were engaged in humanitarian work for displaced people. | He said that UN staff were mostly based in the town of Kilinochchi and were engaged in humanitarian work for displaced people. |
| Aid agencies say there are nearly 160,000 people in the Tiger-controlled north who have been displaced by the fighting | Aid agencies say there are nearly 160,000 people in the Tiger-controlled north who have been displaced by the fighting |
| The International Red Cross (ICRC) - one of the most prominent international agencies in the north - said that its teams were committed to remain in both rebel and government-held areas. | The International Red Cross (ICRC) - one of the most prominent international agencies in the north - said that its teams were committed to remain in both rebel and government-held areas. |
| Offensive | |
| But an ICRC spokesman said that situation was being monitored and negotiations were currently underway with the government in Colombo. | But an ICRC spokesman said that situation was being monitored and negotiations were currently underway with the government in Colombo. |
| Correspondents say that part of the problem for some aid agencies in the north is that their staff cannot leave because they are Tamil locals and the rebels will not issue them with passes. | Correspondents say that part of the problem for some aid agencies in the north is that their staff cannot leave because they are Tamil locals and the rebels will not issue them with passes. |
| The military meanwhile says that its offensive - aimed at crushing the rebels and ending their fight for a separate state for the Tamil minority - is on course. | The military meanwhile says that its offensive - aimed at crushing the rebels and ending their fight for a separate state for the Tamil minority - is on course. |
| The ministry of defence said that it shot down a rebel plane on Tuesday in a major incident in which 12 soldiers and a policemen were killed during a Tamil Tiger attack on a base in the northern area of Vavuniya. | The ministry of defence said that it shot down a rebel plane on Tuesday in a major incident in which 12 soldiers and a policemen were killed during a Tamil Tiger attack on a base in the northern area of Vavuniya. |
| The Tigers said 10 of their suicide fighters were killed in the raid. | The Tigers said 10 of their suicide fighters were killed in the raid. |
| They said that the raid was backed by artillery and light aircraft dropping bombs and that a radar station was destroyed in extensive damage to the base. | They said that the raid was backed by artillery and light aircraft dropping bombs and that a radar station was destroyed in extensive damage to the base. |
| 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. | 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. | More than 70,000 people have died. |