|
|
Change Your Life! |
Sri Lankan air force bombs rebel bases |
|||
|
News
|
||||
August 24, 2000
COLOMBO (AP) - Sri Lankan MiG-27 fighter jets bombed rebel bases in the northern Jaffna Peninsula and inflicted heavy damage, a government spokesman said Wednesday. The newly acquired aircraft attacked rebel hide-outs Tuesday in Kaithady, six kilometers (four miles) outside Jaffna city, said Ariya Rubasinghe, government spokesman. Jaffna is the former capital of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the rebels are trying to wrest back control of the town from the military. "Heavy damages were caused to the rebels from the air attacks," Rubasinghe said. The extent of damage, or the success of the raids, could not be independently confirmed as journalists are not permitted into the war zone. The Sri Lankan air force intensified strikes on rebel bases last week following information that the Tamil Tigers were regrouping and would resume their campaign to retake Jaffna. Rebel hide-outs are scattered around the northern forests where guerrillas store fuel, weapons and ammunitions. Meanwhile, seven rebels were killed and two soldiers injured Tuesday in sporadic clashes in the Jaffna Peninsula. The rebels are fighting for an independent homeland for the 3.2 million-strong Tamil minority, accusing the Sinhalese, who make up 14 million of the country's 18.6 million people, of discrimination and of dominating the government and the military. The 17-year-old war has left more than 62,000 people dead. |
