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Tamil Web site reports 15 civilian casualties in government `carpet-bombing' of village

At least 15 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded yesterday when Sri Lankan air force jets "carpet-bombed" Tamil Tiger-held territory in the north of the island, according to a pro-rebel Web site.

Tamilnet.com said that the government raid against the coastal hamlet of Padahuthurai, located near Mannar, left only five out of 25 homes standing.

It said at least 15 civilians, including 4 children, had been killed in the raid, and a further 30 people had been seriously wounded.

No independent verification of the toll was available.

SEA TIGER BASE

A Sri Lankan air force spokesman confirmed air raids had been carried out against areas held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the north and east of the island, including near Mannar, but said the target was a Sea Tiger base.

"We carried out air raids on an identified Sea Tiger base north of Mannar," Group Captain Ajantha Silva said.

He also said that Tamil Tiger radio communications that had been intercepted by the government indicated that the rebels had suffered serious casualties.

SECOND RAID

A second air raid on LTTE territory at Vakarai in the east of the island had also been carried out, using Israeli-built Kfir jets, Silva said.

"The air force bombers destroyed a Tiger mortar position," Silva said.

The violence came after both Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and the LTTE wished for peace on the island in their New Year messages.

PEACE WISHES

"We hope the New Year will bring the long awaited genuine and sustainable peace," Rajapakse said in his message to the public.

The LTTE expressed its hope that the world would "stand with the Tamil people in their sincere effort to seek a permanent peace through a just political solution."

The rebels are fighting for independence for the island's minority 2.5 million Tamil community.

An upsurge in violence between the government troops and the Tamil Tiger rebels left more than 3,500 people dead last year, despite a truce in place since February 2002 that was brokered by Norwegian diplomats.

The conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives since 1972.
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