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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka rebels in new air raid | Sri Lanka rebels in new air raid |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Tamil Tiger rebels have carried out an air raid on targets in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo. | Tamil Tiger rebels have carried out an air raid on targets in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo. |
| Two fuel facilities were bombed in what the rebels said was in response to an army strike on their positions. | Two fuel facilities were bombed in what the rebels said was in response to an army strike on their positions. |
| One gas storage depot was set ablaze, officials said. It is not clear if there were any casualties. | One gas storage depot was set ablaze, officials said. It is not clear if there were any casualties. |
| Government troops responded by firing anti-aircraft guns and cutting power to Colombo, its airport and an adjoining army base. | Government troops responded by firing anti-aircraft guns and cutting power to Colombo, its airport and an adjoining army base. |
| The public has been warned to be on guard after the Tigers unveiled their own "air force" with two deadly aerial bombings in the space of a month. | The public has been warned to be on guard after the Tigers unveiled their own "air force" with two deadly aerial bombings in the space of a month. |
| Anti-aircraft fire | Anti-aircraft fire |
| Tiger military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan said that two squadrons of what he called the Tamil Eelam air force took part in the raid late at night. | |
| I heard terrible explosions and I saw red sparks Josef PenkavaWitness | |
| He said two fuel facilities were bombed, and that the pilots returned safely after the mission. | |
| The authorities said one gas storage facility was set ablaze in the raid, but the fire was quickly brought under control. | |
| A state petroleum building was also hit. However the extent of the damage was not immediately known. | |
| A Sri Lankan government minister later described the raid as failure. | |
| Colombo residents said they heard at least two powerful explosions in the city. | |
| "I heard terrible explosions and I saw red sparks flying upwards from the ground and I heard shooting," Josef Penkava told the BBC News website. | "I heard terrible explosions and I saw red sparks flying upwards from the ground and I heard shooting," Josef Penkava told the BBC News website. |
| Many residents were watching the Sri Lankan national cricket team play Australia in the World Cup final when the army responded with anti-aircraft guns and the city was blacked out. | Many residents were watching the Sri Lankan national cricket team play Australia in the World Cup final when the army responded with anti-aircraft guns and the city was blacked out. |
| "We were watching the match when the lights went off. Within minutes the night sky was brightened with anti-aircraft fire," Shivantha Fernandopulle said. | "We were watching the match when the lights went off. Within minutes the night sky was brightened with anti-aircraft fire," Shivantha Fernandopulle said. |
| "After about 30 minutes the firing ceased. After a lull of about an hour there was a second round of firing. A plane could be seen flying westwards towards the Indian Ocean." | "After about 30 minutes the firing ceased. After a lull of about an hour there was a second round of firing. A plane could be seen flying westwards towards the Indian Ocean." |
| 'Meaningless truce' | |
| In March, the Tigers carried out their first aerial attack on the Colombo air base, killing three air force personnel and injuring 16 other people. | In March, the Tigers carried out their first aerial attack on the Colombo air base, killing three air force personnel and injuring 16 other people. |
| Rebels are believed to have smuggled light aircraft in pieces | |
| The Tigers later released pictures of an aircraft - a two-seater, propeller-driven Czech jet adapted to carry bombs. | |
| A second aerial bombing, of a northern military complex last Tuesday, killed six soldiers. | A second aerial bombing, of a northern military complex last Tuesday, killed six soldiers. |
| Last Thursday, Colombo's airport was shut down and anti-aircraft guns were fired after reports of unidentified aircraft approaching the capital. That incident proved to be a false alarm. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| More than 64,000 people have died since the civil war began in the early 1980s. | |
| Are you in Colombo? Did you witness the air raids or see anti-aircraft fire? Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which may be published. | Are you in Colombo? Did you witness the air raids or see anti-aircraft fire? Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which may be published. |
| You can send pictures or video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or by mms by dialing +44 (0)7725 100100. You should not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | You can send pictures or video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or by mms by dialing +44 (0)7725 100100. You should not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |