Sri Lankan Air Force Bombs Rebel Areas Following Attack on Navy Boats
11 May 2006
The Sri Lankan navy says Air Force fighter jets have bombed Tamil rebel territory near their stronghold of Kilinochchi, following attacks on navy boats off the northern coast.
European truce monitors in Sri Lanka say the rebels sank two navy gunboats and attacked a navy convoy escorting a ferry carrying hundreds of troops.
A spokeswoman for the monitoring mission, Helen Olafsdottir, said the attacks took place Thursday. She said a truce monitor was traveling with the soldiers. No information on casualties was immediately available.
The violence came a day after Japan's peace envoy to Sri Lanka said relations between the Tamil rebels and the Colombo government are at their worst since their 2002 cease-fire.
Yasushi Akashi urged the government and rebel leaders to have direct negotiations and stop the escalating fighting.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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