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Tamil Tigers in second air attack | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Tamil Tiger rebels have launched an air attack on the Sri Lankan military's main base in northern Jaffna peninsula. | |
The rebels said they used two aircraft and insisted Palaly base was hit. The air force said there was one plane and it had stopped it reaching its target. | |
The attack is only the second time the Tamil Tigers have used air power in their long conflict with the military. | |
The military says that elsewhere in the north, six soldiers were killed in an artillery exchange with the rebels. | |
A military statement said the Tigers fired artillery from the Pooneryn area, injuring six soldiers who "later succumbed due to injuries". | |
Palaly military base acts as headquarters for operations against the rebels in the north. It is also the supply base for tens of thousands of soldiers stationed in the region. | |
'Strategic hit' | 'Strategic hit' |
The Tamil Tigers said the air raid was carried out at night. | The Tamil Tigers said the air raid was carried out at night. |
Experts say the rebels smuggled light aircraft in pieces | |
The rebels' military spokesman, Rasiah Ilanthiriyan, said two aircraft flew over the Palaly military base and dropped bombs, targeting the runway and storage areas. | |
According to the rebels, the pilots returned safely and reported that their attack had left fires burning on the ground. | According to the rebels, the pilots returned safely and reported that their attack had left fires burning on the ground. |
At first the military denied any such incident but later a spokesman, Lieutenant Commander Rohan Joseph, said a single aircraft had been spotted flying towards the base. | At first the military denied any such incident but later a spokesman, Lieutenant Commander Rohan Joseph, said a single aircraft had been spotted flying towards the base. |
He said anti-aircraft batteries on the ground fired and the plane turned away. | He said anti-aircraft batteries on the ground fired and the plane turned away. |
Lt Joseph said as the aircraft returned to Tiger-held areas it dropped two bombs on the front lines between the two sides, wounding a number of soldiers. | Lt Joseph said as the aircraft returned to Tiger-held areas it dropped two bombs on the front lines between the two sides, wounding a number of soldiers. |
An army spokesman said ground fire forced one plane to turn away before it hit its intended target - the main military base on the Jaffna peninsula. | |
In separate violence, at least three people were killed and 35 injured by a suspected roadside bomb that hit a passenger bus. | |
The attack - the third bombing of a civilian bus so far in April - occurred in Vavuniya district, about 250km (155 miles) north of the capital, Colombo. | |
Vavuniya is the last government-held garrison town before territory held by the separatist Tamil Tigers, blamed for the attack by Sri Lankan officials. | |
Theoretical ceasefire | Theoretical ceasefire |
In March, the rebels launched their first air raid on an air force base next to the island's main airport. | In March, the rebels launched their first air raid on an air force base next to the island's main airport. |
The Tigers later released pictures of an aircraft; a two-seater, propeller-driven Czech trainer adapted to carry bombs. | The Tigers later released pictures of an aircraft; a two-seater, propeller-driven Czech trainer adapted to carry bombs. |
The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says it confirmed what analysts had suspected for years - that the rebels were developing an air capability to support ground forces and naval wing. | The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says it confirmed what analysts had suspected for years - that the rebels were developing an air capability to support ground forces and naval wing. |
Experts say the Tigers could have as many as five light aircraft, smuggled into the country in pieces to be assembled in jungle bases. | Experts say the Tigers could have as many as five light aircraft, smuggled into the country in pieces to be assembled in jungle bases. |
Both the Tigers and the military are, officially, still observing a 2002 ceasefire which has become meaningless in practice. | Both the Tigers and the military are, officially, still observing a 2002 ceasefire which has become meaningless in practice. |
Violence began to increase after the 2005 election of President Mahinda Rajapakse. Since then about 4,000 people have been killed. | Violence began to increase after the 2005 election of President Mahinda Rajapakse. Since then about 4,000 people have been killed. |
The Tigers are fighting for a Tamil homeland in the north and east of the island. | The Tigers are fighting for a Tamil homeland in the north and east of the island. |