The Web Sri Lanka In Focus

Tuesday, 12 February 2008

Rebel artillery fire hits Catholic church in Sri Lanka, killing 6 soldiers, says military

Colombo (AP): Artillery fired by Tamil separatists hit a Roman Catholic church near a military base in Sri Lanka's embattled north on Tuesday, killing six soldiers who were cleaning the building, the military said.

About 15 shells hit St. Anthony's Church and the nearby area in the village of Thalladi in the Mannar district, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said.

The attack came a day after escalating fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger fighters along the front lines of the civil war killed 42 rebels and 10 soldiers, the military announced Tuesday.

Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment.

Source: hindu.com