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Rebel base 'destroyed' in S Lanka | Rebel base 'destroyed' in S Lanka |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Sri Lanka's military says its fighter jets have destroyed a rebel base near the northern town of Kilinochchi where Tamil Tiger leaders were meeting. | Sri Lanka's military says its fighter jets have destroyed a rebel base near the northern town of Kilinochchi where Tamil Tiger leaders were meeting. |
But the pro-rebel TamilNet website said the bombs hit a civilian area, wounding seven people and damaging nine houses. | But the pro-rebel TamilNet website said the bombs hit a civilian area, wounding seven people and damaging nine houses. |
The conflicting claims could not be independently verified. | The conflicting claims could not be independently verified. |
Meanwhile, rights group Amnesty International says it is gravely concerned at the end of ceasefire between the government and rebels. | Meanwhile, rights group Amnesty International says it is gravely concerned at the end of ceasefire between the government and rebels. |
'Completely destroyed' | 'Completely destroyed' |
"Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets targeted a Tamil Tiger senior leaders' gathering at Jayapoor in Kilinochchi," news agency AFP reported, quoting from a defence ministry statement. | "Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets targeted a Tamil Tiger senior leaders' gathering at Jayapoor in Kilinochchi," news agency AFP reported, quoting from a defence ministry statement. |
"Pilots confirmed that the location was completely destroyed," it added. | "Pilots confirmed that the location was completely destroyed," it added. |
But the TamilNet website said the planes "bombed a civilian area with a mechanic workshop" and that Tamil Tiger rebels responded with anti-aircraft fire. | |
The air strike comes a day after Colombo ended a 2002 ceasefire with the rebels. | The air strike comes a day after Colombo ended a 2002 ceasefire with the rebels. |
For the past couple of years, the truce - brokered by Norwegian monitors - remained only on paper. | For the past couple of years, the truce - brokered by Norwegian monitors - remained only on paper. |
The terms of the deal were repeatedly violated by both the government as well as the rebels. | The terms of the deal were repeatedly violated by both the government as well as the rebels. |
Officials say that a total of 33 people died during and after the bombing of a bus in the south-east of the country on Wednesday. | |
Witnesses say that suspected rebels shot most of the passengers who survived the blast as they tried to flee the scene of the attack. At least 60 people were injured. | |
The army says that the attackers retreated into the bush after the bombing and shootings, killing six farmers they met along the way. | |
'Protect civilians' | 'Protect civilians' |
Meanwhile, the UK-based rights group Amnesty International says the end of the ceasefire will lead to a dramatic rise in hostilities in the country. | |
In a statement, Amnesty International said the end of the truce would also increase indiscriminate attacks against the civilian population. | In a statement, Amnesty International said the end of the truce would also increase indiscriminate attacks against the civilian population. |
It called on both the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels to comply with their legal obligation to protect civilians. | It called on both the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels to comply with their legal obligation to protect civilians. |
It also urged the international community to establish an independent monitoring presence in Sri Lanka. | It also urged the international community to establish an independent monitoring presence in Sri Lanka. |
The government gave notice two weeks ago it was pulling out of the 2002 ceasefire agreement. | The government gave notice two weeks ago it was pulling out of the 2002 ceasefire agreement. |
It said the rebels - who are fighting for an independent state in the north and east - used the peace pact to rearm and regroup. It now says it aims to crush them by the end of this year. | It said the rebels - who are fighting for an independent state in the north and east - used the peace pact to rearm and regroup. It now says it aims to crush them by the end of this year. |
The rebels have said they are ready to fight. | The rebels have said they are ready to fight. |
There were two bomb attacks on Wednesday, when the government formally ended the ceasefire with rebels. | There were two bomb attacks on Wednesday, when the government formally ended the ceasefire with rebels. |
At least 26 people were killed and more than 60 injured in one attack on a packed bus, the army said. | At least 26 people were killed and more than 60 injured in one attack on a packed bus, the army said. |