saraprobe
11-25-2007, 12:22 PM
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lankan air force fighter jets on Sunday bombed and destroyed a secret satellite communications center run by Tamil Tiger rebels in their northern stronghold, a spokesman said.
The center, located in a village near the rebels' de facto capital of Kilinochchi, was used to communicate and coordinate with rebels agents overseas, said air force spokesman Group Capt. Ajantha Silva.
He said it was unclear if there were any casualties.
Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be contacted immediately.
Sri Lanka's air force has recently played a major role in the fight against separatist Tamil Tigers, with one strike earlier this month killing the rebels' political wing head S.P Tamilselvan, thought by many to be the No.2 in the outfit.
There has been increased ground clashes and air strikes around Kilinochchi in recent weeks as part of the government's campaign to dismantle the rebel administration.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as the rebels are officially known, have fought the government since 1983 to create an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils after a history of discrimination.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
The center, located in a village near the rebels' de facto capital of Kilinochchi, was used to communicate and coordinate with rebels agents overseas, said air force spokesman Group Capt. Ajantha Silva.
He said it was unclear if there were any casualties.
Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be contacted immediately.
Sri Lanka's air force has recently played a major role in the fight against separatist Tamil Tigers, with one strike earlier this month killing the rebels' political wing head S.P Tamilselvan, thought by many to be the No.2 in the outfit.
There has been increased ground clashes and air strikes around Kilinochchi in recent weeks as part of the government's campaign to dismantle the rebel administration.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as the rebels are officially known, have fought the government since 1983 to create an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils after a history of discrimination.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.