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Rebels attack Sri Lanka air base Rebels attack Sri Lanka air base
(about 2 hours later)
At least two airmen and 10 Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed in fighting at a Sri Lanka air force base in the north of the country, the military said. At least five airmen and 20 Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed in clashes after the rebels attacked an air force base in the north of Sri Lanka.
Four more airmen were killed when their helicopter sent to provide back-up crashed in the area.Four more airmen were killed when their helicopter sent to provide back-up crashed in the area.
Two rebel planes dropped bombs on the base amid heavy gunfire, in what correspondents say is their first combined air and land attack. The rebels said their fighters included men and women on a suicide mission.
The rebels said they still held parts of the base hours after the attack, but the military said it was under their full control.
The Tamil Tigers are fighting for a Tamil homeland in the north and east.The Tamil Tigers are fighting for a Tamil homeland in the north and east.
Tourist attraction The attack on the air force base at Anuradhapura, 210km (130 miles) north of the capital Colombo, comes as fighting has intensified on Sri Lanka's northern fronts.
Gunfire and explosions could be heard in Anuradhapura, 210km (130 miles) north of the capital Colombo, before dawn on Monday, the ministry stated. Two rebel planes dropped bombs on the base amid heavy gunfire, in what correspondents say is their first combined air and land attack.
The attack began at 0320 (2150 GMT Sunday), when a small group of Tamil Tigers penetrated the air force base, said military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara. 'Suicide squad'
The base is well inside government territory and the ruins of an ancient civilisation there attract many tourists. Tamil Tigers military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan said 21 men and women infiltrated the base at Anuradhapura, an ancient capital and tourist attraction well inside government-held territory.
During the fighting, two rebel aircraft flew overhead and dropped bombs. He said they were members of the Black Tigers, a suicide squad responsible for scores of bombings and assassinations, as well as attacks on the land and at sea.
Brig Nanayakkara said several men on the ground were killed and many others wounded, while two helicopters were damaged. While the fighting was taking place on the ground, two planes belonging to the rebels flew overhead and dropped bombs.
Four more airmen lost their lives when their helicopter sent to provide back-up crashed a few kilometres from the base. Military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said several men on the ground were killed and many others wounded, while two helicopters were damaged.
The military insisted it went down because of a technical fault, not gunfire. The military insisted that the helicopter that crashed near the base went down because of a technical fault, not gunfire.
The bodies of a number of rebels were later found in the base. The bodies of a number of rebels were later found in the base, the military said.
But Tigers spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan said the planes involved in the attack got away, as they did after three air raids earlier this year. Rebel spokesman Mr Ilanthirayan said the planes involved in the attack got away, as they did after three air raids earlier this year.
The rebels are believed to have a small fleet of Czech-made two-seater propeller driven aircraft.The rebels are believed to have a small fleet of Czech-made two-seater propeller driven aircraft.
They are thought to have been smuggled into Sri Lanka in pieces, reassembled and modified to carry bombs.They are thought to have been smuggled into Sri Lanka in pieces, reassembled and modified to carry bombs.
Earlier this year, the Tigers used such a plane to bomb an air base next to the country's only international airport, near Colombo.Earlier this year, the Tigers used such a plane to bomb an air base next to the country's only international airport, near Colombo.