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Colombo on alert for air strike Tamil Tiger planes 'raid Colombo'
(10 minutes later)
Anti-aircraft guns have been firing into the skies over Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, amid an alert over a suspected air raid by Tamil rebels. At least one plane from Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels has attacked the capital, Colombo, officials say.
There have been reports of at least one explosion in Colombo. The city has been put on alert and anti-aircraft guns have been firing into the night sky.
The alert comes as the Sri Lankan army has been pressing the Tamil Tiger rebels into a narrow area of jungle in the north-east of Sri Lanka. There was one explosion by the city's port, but it was not clear if it was a bomb or a plane blowing up, a defence official said.
The Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east for a quarter of a century.The Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east for a quarter of a century.
Military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said a suspected Tamil Tiger aircraft was spotted north-east of Colombo and the capital's air defences had been activated. The alert comes as the Sri Lankan army has been pressing the Tamil Tiger rebels into a narrow area of jungle in the north-east of Sri Lanka.
A defence official said there had been an explosion near Colombo's port area but it was not clear if it was a bomb or a plane blowing up. Military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said a suspected Tamil Tiger aircraft was spotted north-east of Colombo and the capital's air defences were activated.
An air force spokesman said jets had been scrambled and were engaging the Tiger aircraft.
The Tamil Tigers have used light planes in the past to attack Colombo.The Tamil Tigers have used light planes in the past to attack Colombo.