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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 north of 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. Bishop of Mannar Rayappu Joseph visited the scene of the bombing and said he saw no evidence of rebel activity.
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. Bishop Joseph spoke to the BBC Tamil service after touring the village of Padahuthurai, which is in rebel-held territory, and visiting some of the wounded in hospital.
We carried out air raids on an identified Sea Tiger base north of Mannar Group Captain Ajantha Silva
"I could not find any Tamil Tiger base in that vicinity. It was a small fishing community. The injured and killed were civilians," he said.
Rebel spokesman Rasaiah Ilanthirayan said four fighter jets had destroyed dozens of civilian houses.
"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 said the wounded were taken to hospitals in Mannar district. Several badly-injured children were transferred to the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi. The rebels said the wounded were taken to hospitals in Mannar district.
Photographs on the rebels' website showed injured children arriving for treatment at a hospital in Kilinochchi. Photographs on the rebels' website also showed injured children arriving for treatment in the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi.
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. The Red Cross helped transport injured civilians from the scene of the attack to hospital, a spokesman told the BBC.
Sri Lanka's military denies attacking civilians. Sri Lanka's military says photographs proved the area attacked was a base of the Sea Tigers, the rebels' naval wing.
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 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.
'Human shields''Human shields'
Civilians have been increasingly caught up in Sri Lanka's worsening conflict.Civilians have been increasingly caught up in Sri Lanka's worsening conflict.
The military accuses the rebels of using them as human shields, a charge the Tamil Tigers reject.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.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.