Thousands Flee New Violence In Sri Lanka

The Associated Press

April 26, 2006

Sri Lankan Military Strikes Rebel Bases; at Least 15,000 Flee Homes in Targeted Areas

By KRISHAN FRANCIS

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - The military unleashed airstrikes and mortar attacks Wednesday at areas controlled by Tamil Tiger insurgents, who said that 15,000 people had fled the second day of violence sparked by a suspected rebel suicide bombing.

European monitors said the violence was violating a 4-year-old cease-fire.

The rebels said at least 12 people in its territory had been killed in attacks that the military launched Tuesday in the first major military assault since the cease-fire. The government attacks escalated Wednesday after the government said rebel mortar fire at targets including a navy ship had killed three civilians and injured 11 people, including two sailors.

The government pledged continued action against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which it held responsible after a Tuesday suicide bombing by a woman pretending to be pregnant badly injured the government's top military commander.

"There will be coordinated retaliation by the armed forces if the LTTE continues to attack," government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told a news conference. "We are taking maximum efforts to strengthen national security."

Ulf Henricsson, the Swedish head of the Nordic cease-fire monitoring team, said that, while Sri Lanka's truce is still valid, "it is on paper. What is going on is a serious violation of the agreement."

A top military analyst said that Sri Lanka could return to full-scale warfare if the government's military operation expands and results in substantial rebel casualties.

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