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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka rebels in new air raid | Sri Lanka rebels in new air raid |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Tamil Tiger rebels have carried out an air raid on targets in and around Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo. | Tamil Tiger rebels have carried out an air raid on targets in and around 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. |
| Authorities turned off Colombo's power, as large crowds gathered to watch Sri Lanka play Australia in cricket's World Cup final. | Authorities turned off Colombo's power, as large crowds gathered to watch Sri Lanka play Australia in cricket's World Cup final. |
| Hours after the attack, Sri Lankan Air Force jets pounded Tiger-held areas in an effort to destroy their aircraft. | Hours after the attack, Sri Lankan Air Force jets pounded Tiger-held areas in an effort to destroy their aircraft. |
| During the raid on the capital, government troops fired anti-aircraft guns and cut power to Colombo, its airport and an adjoining army base. | During the raid on the capital, government troops fired anti-aircraft guns and cut power to Colombo, its airport and an adjoining army base. |
| The public had 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 had 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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, though the extent of the damage was not immediately known. | A state petroleum building was also hit, though the extent of the damage was not immediately known. |
| A Sri Lankan government minister later described the raid as failure. | A Sri Lankan government minister later described the raid as failure. |
| Colombo residents said they heard at least two powerful explosions in the city. | 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." |
| There are no reports of damage following the air force raid into Tiger territory. | There are no reports of damage following the air force raid into Tiger territory. |
| The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo said destroying the Tigers' aircraft and jungle airbases has become the number one priority of the Sri Lankan Air Force. | The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo said destroying the Tigers' aircraft and jungle airbases has become the number one priority of the Sri Lankan Air Force. |
| Shattered truce | Shattered 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 | Rebels are believed to have smuggled light aircraft in pieces |
| The Tigers later released pictures of a plane - a two-seater Czech Zlin light aircraft adapted to carry bombs. | The Tigers later released pictures of a plane - a two-seater Czech Zlin light aircraft 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. | 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. | 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. |
| More than 64,000 people have died since the civil war began in the early 1980s. | More than 64,000 people have died since the civil war began in the early 1980s. |