Tamil Tiger rebels have bombed military targets in the north-east of Sri Lanka using light aircraft, officials say.

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The source said they dropped three bombs and flew back. Security forces have just launched a fresh drive against the Tigers in the area.

It would be the fifth rebel aerial strike since the Tigers created an air force a year ago.

It came as police arrested nine people over a suspected rebel bomb blast that killed 26 people on a bus near the capital, Colombo, in Friday's evening rush hour.

Sunday's attack is said to have caused no damage but would indicate the rebels have the coordinates of military targets.

"They came and dropped three bombs. Nobody was hurt, and no damage to any property," said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.

The rebels launched their last air strike in October 2007 on an air force base in Anuradhapura.

The Tigers have fought for a generation for an independent state for the Tamil minority.

At least 70,000 people have died since the civil war began in 1983.

(BBC)

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