Sri Lanka's defense ministry says air force jets have bombed rebel Tamil Tiger command and artillery positions in the north of the country. An Air Force spokesman ,Wing Commander Janaka Nanauakkara, said on Sunday that the jets struck near the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi. The spokesman did not provide any casualty figures, but a pro-rebel website (TamilNet) says five civilians were injured, including a two-year old boy.
On Saturday, TamilNet reported the Tamil Tiger's political leader B. Nadesan reiterated his support for a ceasefire. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse warned last week that the rebels will be destroyed unless they lay down their arms and surrender. In January, the government officially pulled out of 2002 truce after repeated violations by both sides.
Sri Lankan troops are engaged in a major offensive in the country's north aimed at defeating the rebels.REST OPT Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting since 1983 to create an independent state in the country's north and east. More than 70-thousand people have been killed in the conflict.