Lankan Air Force jets bomb LTTE Kilinochchi, five killed

Colombo, Nov 2 (UNI) Sri Lanka's Air Force fighter jets bombed LTTE stronghold Kilinochchi this afternoon, killing at least five people.

According to the LTTE Peace Secretariat website, the bombs exploded ''on a civilian settlement'' about 600 metres from a hospital, killing five people in one house situated along the A9 Jaffna-Kandy main highway.

''One of those injured person was rushed to the hospital where the staff were already in panic. He later succumbed to injuries in the hospital,'' the website said, adding all five killed belonged to one family.

The website, quoting LTTE Political Wing Leader Thamilselvan, who led the negotiations in Geneva, said, ''Such a blatant attack in the middle of Kilinochchi city defies everything that the international community has been requesting. '' Referring to the bombing in LTTE strong-hold of Kilinochchi area, the government's Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said the Air Force jets have bombed ''well identified Tiger targets''.

''The other target was the rebel group's military training base located 10 kms South East of Kilinochchi. The intelligence and surveillance sources confirmed that heavy damages had been caused to the tigers,'' the military website said, adding the Air Force also conducted ''well planned'' air strikes on rebels' positions in Mannar.

The air strike comes exactly a day after the LTTE negotiating team returned to Kilinochchi via the Katunayake International Airport after two-day abortive talks with the Sri Lankan government in Geneva.

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