Dozens of civilians killed in Sri Lanka attack, says report

At least 50 civilians were killed and many more wounded on Wednesday in air attacks in north-eastern Sri Lanka where Tamil Tiger guerrillas have been cornered, a pro-rebel website reported.

The Tamilnet.com website said the attack took place at the village of Aananthapuram, but the Sri Lankan military rejected the charge and said aircraft had engaged “identified resisting points of the Tigers”.

Government military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakka said the Tamilnet report was a “fabrication”.

“We have carried out attacks against resisting points of the Tigers and not in areas where there are civilians,” he said.

Independent verification of claims and counter-claims is not possible as the authorities have severely restricted access to the region by relief agencies, diplomats and independent journalists.

There was no immediate comment from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which has a limited presence in the area.

However, the ICRC said earlier this month that “hundreds” of civilians had been killed in crossfire.—Sapa-AFP