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| Rebel targets 'hit' in Sri Lanka | Rebel targets 'hit' in Sri Lanka |
| (1 day later) | |
| Sri Lanka's air force has carried out strikes against alleged rebel targets in the eastern town of Batticaloa. | |
| A military spokesman said the raids were to "neutralise" artillery positions of the Tamil Tigers after they fired at the military camps. | |
| The air raids are the first since peace talks between the government and Tamil rebels broke down over the weekend. | The air raids are the first since peace talks between the government and Tamil rebels broke down over the weekend. |
| Talks failed over the issue of the main A9 highway connecting Jaffna with the rest of the country. | Talks failed over the issue of the main A9 highway connecting 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. |
| Back to fighting | Back to fighting |
| Military spokesman, Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, told Reuters news agency that "they [Tamil Tigers] are firing artillery and mortar fire at us in the east, so we have retaliated by neutralising targets with an air raid". | Military spokesman, Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, told Reuters news agency that "they [Tamil Tigers] are firing artillery and mortar fire at us in the east, so we have retaliated by neutralising targets with an air raid". |
| There has been no comment from the Tigers yet. | There has been no comment from the Tigers yet. |
| The two sides have been back to fighting after government and rebel negotiators failed to break the deadlock at their talks in Geneva. | The two sides have been back to fighting after government and rebel negotiators failed to break the deadlock at their talks in Geneva. |
| On Tuesday, one soldier was killed and three others injured in a bomb explosion in Vavuniya in northern Sri Lanka. | On Tuesday, one soldier was killed and three others injured in a bomb explosion in Vavuniya in northern Sri Lanka. |
| A military spokesman said Tamil Tiger rebels detonated a landmine as a truck carrying troops was passing by. | A military spokesman said Tamil Tiger rebels detonated a landmine as a truck carrying troops was passing by. |
| Heavy shelling | Heavy shelling |
| On Monday, Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tiger rebels exchanged heavy artillery fire in the northern Jaffna peninsula. | On Monday, Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tiger rebels exchanged heavy artillery fire in the northern Jaffna peninsula. |
| Residents in Jaffna described hearing explosions and said the shelling was heavier than usual. | Residents in Jaffna described hearing explosions and said the shelling was heavier than usual. |
| The rebels have said they will not agree to a date for more negotiations until the crucial A9 highway is re-opened. | The rebels have said they will not agree to a date for more negotiations until the crucial A9 highway is re-opened. |
| It has been closed since fighting began in the north in early August, leaving around half a million people cut off. | It has been closed since fighting began in the north in early August, leaving around half a million people cut off. |
| Provisions are getting through, but not nearly enough, and there is concern of an impending humanitarian crisis. | Provisions are getting through, but not nearly enough, and there is concern of an impending humanitarian crisis. |
| The government has rejected the rebel demands, saying the Tigers want access to the area simply to levy taxes. | The government has rejected the rebel demands, saying the Tigers want access to the area simply to levy taxes. |
| It has said it will ferry in emergency supplies by sea. The rebels have refused to give security guarantees. | It has said it will ferry in emergency supplies by sea. The rebels have refused to give security guarantees. |
| International pressure | International pressure |
| 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. |
| Despite the bloodshed, both sides maintain that they are committed to a 2002 ceasefire which now exists only in name. | Despite the bloodshed, both sides maintain that they are committed to a 2002 ceasefire which now exists only in name. |
| Most observers believe they were brought to talks only as a result of international pressure. | Most observers believe they were brought to talks only as a result of international pressure. |
| The acrimonious atmosphere in Geneva and continuing fighting in Sri Lanka reflect this lack of sincerity, they say. | The acrimonious atmosphere in Geneva and continuing fighting in Sri Lanka reflect this lack of sincerity, they say. |
| About 65,000 people were killed in fighting before the 2002 truce was agreed. | About 65,000 people were killed in fighting before the 2002 truce was agreed. |
| The rebels want a homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east. They say Tamils have been discriminated against by the island's majority Sinhalese community. | The rebels want a homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east. They say Tamils have been discriminated against by the island's majority Sinhalese community. |