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Sri Lanka jets bomb rebel areas | Sri Lanka jets bomb rebel areas |
(4 days later) | |
The Sri Lankan air force has bombed targets in Tamil Tiger-held areas in the north for a second day. | The Sri Lankan air force has bombed targets in Tamil Tiger-held areas in the north for a second day. |
International ceasefire monitors said five people, probably civilians, were killed when a bomb landed near a hospital in the town of Kilinochchi. | International ceasefire monitors said five people, probably civilians, were killed when a bomb landed near a hospital in the town of Kilinochchi. |
The army says the planes were attacking two military targets. | The army says the planes were attacking two military targets. |
The air raids are the first since weekend peace talks broke down on the issue of the main road linking Jaffna with the rest of the country. | The air raids are the first since weekend peace talks broke down on the issue of the main road linking Jaffna with the rest of the country. |
Both sides accuse each other of restarting the fighting. | Both sides accuse each other of restarting the fighting. |
'State terrorism' | 'State terrorism' |
Staff from the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) visited Kilinochchi - where the Tamil Tigers have their headquarters - to assess the damage. | Staff from the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) visited Kilinochchi - where the Tamil Tigers have their headquarters - to assess the damage. |
SLMM spokeswoman Helen Olafsdottir said that the hospital had not been struck, but had been damaged by shock waves from the blast. | SLMM spokeswoman Helen Olafsdottir said that the hospital had not been struck, but had been damaged by shock waves from the blast. |
DESCENT INTO VIOLENCE 16 October 2006: 99 killed in suicide attack on navy convoy11 October 2006: 129 soldiers die in fighting between army and Tamil Tigers4 September 2006: Troops take control of a crucial area near Trincomalee14 August 2006: 61 schoolchildren killed by air force bombs, rebels say7 August 2006: 17 local employees of a French charity shot dead in the town of Muttur26 June 2006: A suspected suicide bomber kills a top Sri Lankan general near Colombo15 June 2006: At least 64 - many children - die in mine attack on bus Q&A: Sri Lanka crisis | |
Two bombs had been dropped, she said, one of which landed on a house 600m away from the hospital, the other about 400m away. | Two bombs had been dropped, she said, one of which landed on a house 600m away from the hospital, the other about 400m away. |
Ms Olafsdottir said the dead included two teenagers and two people in their 50s or 60s. | Ms Olafsdottir said the dead included two teenagers and two people in their 50s or 60s. |
"It seems at first sight that these were civilians but we need confirmation," she told the BBC. | "It seems at first sight that these were civilians but we need confirmation," she told the BBC. |
A statement from the rebels said those killed were five members of one family who died in their house. | A statement from the rebels said those killed were five members of one family who died in their house. |
Tiger military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan told Reuters news agency that fragments from the blast "flew as far as a hospital 500 metres away and smashed windows". | Tiger military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan told Reuters news agency that fragments from the blast "flew as far as a hospital 500 metres away and smashed windows". |
"This is state terrorism," he said. | "This is state terrorism," he said. |
But the military said it was attacking legitimate targets. | But the military said it was attacking legitimate targets. |
"We have taken two targets. One is a Sea Tiger base in Mannar [in the north-west], and the other is a military training camp 10km south-east of Kilinochchi," said military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe. | "We have taken two targets. One is a Sea Tiger base in Mannar [in the north-west], and the other is a military training camp 10km south-east of Kilinochchi," said military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe. |
The air raids came as the two sides continued artillery exchanges in the north and east for a fourth day. | The air raids came as the two sides continued artillery exchanges in the north and east for a fourth day. |
On Wednesday jets pounded the restive eastern district of Batticaloa. | On Wednesday jets pounded the restive eastern district of Batticaloa. |
"The situation is discouraging and the talks in Geneva did not have any positive impact on the ground situation," Ms Olafsdottir told the Associated Press news agency. | "The situation is discouraging and the talks in Geneva did not have any positive impact on the ground situation," Ms Olafsdottir told the Associated Press news agency. |
The violence has claimed more than 3,000 lives since the end of last year, the government says, although the rebels dispute the number of their fighters killed. | The violence has claimed more than 3,000 lives since the end of last year, the government says, although the rebels dispute the number of their fighters killed. |
Both sides maintain that they are committed to a 2002 ceasefire. | Both sides maintain that they are committed to a 2002 ceasefire. |
At least 65,000 people have been killed since the rebels began their fight more than 20 years ago for a homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east. | At least 65,000 people have been killed since the rebels began their fight more than 20 years ago for a homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east. |
The rebels say Tamils have been discriminated against by the island's majority Sinhalese community. | The rebels say Tamils have been discriminated against by the island's majority Sinhalese community. |
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