Sri Lankan air force bombs Tamil Tiger positions in northeast

Associated Press, Tue February 6, 2007 07:56 EST . BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI - Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lankan air force helicopters bombed two Tamil Tiger rebel positions near a strategic port and air base in northeastern Trincomalee District Tuesday while in capital Colombo, a bomb on display accidentally exploded, wounding 17 people, military said. There was no independent confirmation of the report and the rebels, who say they are fighting to create a separate homeland for Sri Lanka - 's 3.1 million Tamils, could not be reached immediately for comment.

Samarasinghe said two rebel locations were bombed after surveillance noticed that the insurgents were gathering at the two points.

It was not immediately known if the rebels suffered casualties.

Also on Tuesday, 17 people were hurt at an exhibition when a bomb on display exploded, a doctor and a military official said.

An anti-personnel mine accidentally detonated while officers were explaining to viewers how it works, said Lt. Col. Upali Rajapakse, a senior Defense Ministry official.

``We are treating 17 injured persons, including two Buddhist monks and two police commandoes,'' said Dr. Hector Weerasinghe, head of the Colombo's main hospital. Two patients were in critical condition.

The exhibition, organized by the government to commemorate the country's 59th anniversary of independence, had stalls showcasing military equipment, explosives and weapons captured from separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. The exhibition was being held at the capital's main exhibition center.

Rajapakse said the explosion was not linked to the rebel insurgency. Over the last few weeks, security has been tightened in the capital with an increased troop presence on the roads due to Independence Day celebrations.

Meanwhile, Samarasinghe, the military spokesman, visited the scene of the explosion and apologized to the victims.

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 to create the homeland. A 2002 cease-fire halted the open war, but last year saw increasing hostility with about 3,600 people dying in violence last year.

The government says it is willing to give limited autonomy in areas where Tamil live, but rebels want sweeping autonomy which the government says will infringe on the island nation's sovereignty