63 Sri Lankans Killed in Bombing
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — At least 63 civilians were killed when warplanes bombing rebel-held territory struck a church and school used as shelters, officials said Monday.
The bombing occurred Sunday, the first day of a government offensive in which jets, gunboats and long-range artillery opened fire on rebel positions in northern Sri Lanka. Tamil rebel forces engaged advancing troops later Sunday in heavy fighting.
On Monday, the guerrillas tried to regain territory, prompting the Sri Lankan forces to open fire again with artillery shells and warplanes and to send their troops forward.
The offensive is the largest since rebels fighting for a homeland in northern and eastern Sri Lanka broke a three-month cease-fire April 19.
In a statement from their London office, the rebels said Monday that more than 160 civilians have been killed in the latest fighting, including the 63 who died Sunday when six bombs hit St. Peter’s Church in Navaly, a town close to the rebel stronghold of Jaffna.
A Sri Lankan government official said on condition of anonymity that the church was hit and that 67 people were killed.
International relief workers said that 54 children were injured.
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