Sri Lankan air raid 'kills at least 43 schoolgirls'

A pro-rebel website today reported that Sri Lankan jets bombed a children's home in the country's rebel-held north-east, killing 43 schoolgirls who were there taking a first aid course.

An additional 60 girls were wounded in the morning air raid on the home in the Mullaitivu district, which lies deep inside territory controlled by the Tamil Tigers, the TamilNet website reported, citing rebel officials.

Government officials were not immediately available to comment on the report, which could not be independently verified.