Tamil Tigers attack base next to international airport

Tamil Tiger rebels armed with mortars have attacked Sri Lanka's international airport and adjoining air force base.

They damaged seven military aircraft and three Sri Lankan Airlines planes, the military said.

Three of the guerrillas were killed and troops were searching for more, said military spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne.

"There is firing going on inside the air base. They have shot at the (control) tower," said air force trooper Chaminda Kumara, who briefed reporters at a cordon line set up to block access to the airport.

"We are not sure of how many people (guerrillas) are inside, but there seemed to be a fair amount."

Trooper Kumara said most of the passengers and employees at the airport had been evacuated to the capital, Colombo, 19 miles to the south.

"A few of the airport staff and passengers are still within the airport building and we are giving them as much security as we can," he said.

Aircraft from the Gulf Emirates of Muscat, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which were due to land when the fighting broke out, were diverted to India and the Maldives, said an official at the airport's office in Colombo.

A Sri Lankan Airline flight from London was diverted to Dubai, and one from Sydney was sent to the Maldives, said the officials.

The attack on the airport came on the anniversary of July 23-24 riots in 1983, in which Sinhalese mobs killed 2,000-3,000 Tamils. The riots were seen as revenge for an attack the previous day by rebels, in which 13 soldiers were killed. That attack, and the subsequent riots, are seen as the start of the 18-year war.