Brigadier rejects the allegation that civilians were targeted

Reports from Kilinochchi said four civilians died and six more injured from the air attack.

An eye witness told BBC Tamil service that attack took place around 7.30 a.m.

"First came a reconnaissance plane, followed by a Kfir jet” an eyewitness said.

“There were eight bombs and they exploded in my neighbour’s house, three of the victims are my relatives.”

We could not accept the claim that civilian deaths were resulted from the air attack   Brigadier Nanayakkara

“My house has damaged too” she added.

The Ministry of Defence website said “the fighter jets pounded on the target located at Dharmapuram, North East of Kilinochchi at 7.20 a.m.

Known target

According to the defence.lk the target was “known to be a highly secured palace where LTTE leaders frequently visit and which is equipped with sophisticated satellite communication devices”.

Speaking to Sandeshaya, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara rejected the allegation that civilian deaths were resulted from air attacks.

First came a reconnaissance plane, followed by a Kfir jet   An eyewitness

“LTTE is not allowing any civilian to live around the places where their leaders met so this incident could be a result of an LTTE attack”.

“We could not accept the claim that civilian deaths were resulted from the air attack” he added.

Medical officer at Kilinochchi Hospital said for people are receiving treatment in the hospital.

Four deaths

“Four bodies were brought to hospital from Dharmapuram and number of injured people is admitted to the hospital”, Dr Kugarajan, Deputy Director of Kilinochchi hospital said.

According to Dr Kugarajan, there was a claymore attack on the ambulance which brought the bodies and its driver is in the intensive care unit of the hospital.

Responding to the allegations about the claymore attack Brigadier Nanayakkara said Sri Lankan military do not conduct operations in Kilinochchi.