Sri Lanka facing full-scale fighting

Sri Lanka’s military launched airstrikes on Tamil rebel bases today after navy craft came under attack, and a pro-rebel web site reported at least 12 people killed as the nation appeared to head back into full-scale fighting.

The TamilNet Website said that at least 12 civilians were killed since the airstrikes began in north-eastern Sri Lanka late yesterday, but that toll could not be independently confirmed.

Military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said the strikes had hit rebel bases only.

Still, it was unclear if the country’s 2002 cease-fire between the Tamil Tiger rebels and Sinhalese-dominated government would survive the latest spasm of violence, which began on Tuesday when a suspected ethnic Tamil suicide bomber targeted the government’s top military commander.

The officer was wounded and eight other people were killed in the attack, and the government launched airstrikes on Tamil Tiger-held areas later on Tuesday.