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Sri Lanka raid 'kills civilians' Sri Lanka raid 'kills civilians'
(30 minutes later)
At least 15 civilians have been killed in an air force raid in north-west Sri Lanka, Tamil Tiger rebels say.At least 15 civilians have been killed in an air force raid in north-west Sri Lanka, Tamil Tiger rebels say.
Another 25 civilians were wounded in the attack on a fishing village near Mannar, the rebels say. The military says it bombed a rebel naval position.Another 25 civilians were wounded in the attack on a fishing village near Mannar, the rebels say. The military says it bombed a rebel naval position.
A military spokesman said photographs proved it was a base of the Sea Tigers, the rebels' naval wing.A military spokesman said photographs proved it was a base of the Sea Tigers, the rebels' naval wing.
Fighting has risen over the past year, with more than 3,000 people killed. A 2002 truce exists now only on paper.Fighting has risen over the past year, with more than 3,000 people killed. A 2002 truce exists now only on paper.
'Civilian houses''Civilian houses'
Rebel spokesman Rasaiah Ilanthirayan said four fighter jets had destroyed dozens of civilian houses in the village of Padahuthurai.Rebel spokesman Rasaiah Ilanthirayan said four fighter jets had destroyed dozens of civilian houses in the village of Padahuthurai.
"There are 15 dead bodies and 25 wounded from the bombing," he told Reuters news agency. Four of those killed were children, he said."There are 15 dead bodies and 25 wounded from the bombing," he told Reuters news agency. Four of those killed were children, he said.
The rebels say the wounded have been taken to hospitals in Mannar district. Several badly-injured children have been transferred to the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi. The rebels said the wounded were taken to hospitals in Mannar district. Several badly-injured children were transferred to the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi.
Photographs on the rebels' website showed injured children arriving for treatment at a hospital in Kilinochchi.Photographs on the rebels' website showed injured children arriving for treatment at a hospital in Kilinochchi.
The military denies attacking civilians. The Red Cross confirmed to the BBC that it had helped transport injured civilians from the scene of the attack to a hospital in Kilinochchi. A spokesman was unable to provide any more details.
Sri Lanka's military denies attacking civilians.
Air force spokesman Group Captain Ajantha Silva said the area targeted had been to the north of Mannar, an area under rebel control.Air force spokesman Group Captain Ajantha Silva said the area targeted had been to the north of Mannar, an area under rebel control.
He said military aircraft had also targeted rebel mortar positions in eastern Batticaloa district.He said military aircraft had also targeted rebel mortar positions in eastern Batticaloa district.
"Our air force took two known Tiger targets this morning," he told a news conference."Our air force took two known Tiger targets this morning," he told a news conference.
He said it was impossible to accurately assess the damage after the bombing run near Mannar but he said that shortly after the attack rebels were heard on radio airwaves calling for doctors and vehicles to treat and evacuate their wounded.He said it was impossible to accurately assess the damage after the bombing run near Mannar but he said that shortly after the attack rebels were heard on radio airwaves calling for doctors and vehicles to treat and evacuate their wounded.
The two sides' competing accounts could not be immediately verified independently.
'Human shields''Human shields'
The Tamil Tigers frequently say civilians have been killed by the military, which accuses the rebels of using them as human shields. Civilians have been increasingly caught up in Sri Lanka's worsening conflict.
At least 3,400 people have been killed in the conflict in the past year, many of them civilians, the government says. More than 65,000 lives have been lost since 1972. The military accuses the rebels of using them as human shields, a charge the Tamil Tigers reject.
Neither side has formally declared an end to the four-year-old ceasefire.Neither side has formally declared an end to the four-year-old ceasefire.
At least 3,400 people have been killed in the conflict in the past year, many of them civilians, the government says. More than 65,000 lives have been lost since 1972.
The rebels want independence for the 2.5m-strong minority Tamil community in the north and east of the country, who they say are discriminated against by majority Sinhalese.The rebels want independence for the 2.5m-strong minority Tamil community in the north and east of the country, who they say are discriminated against by majority Sinhalese.