July 15, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 29, 1428

COLOMBO, July 14: Air force jets bombed LTTE-held areas in the northwestern Mannar district of Sri Lanka on Saturday, hours after heavy fighting erupted in northern Vavuniya as rebels clashed with troops, killing one soldier and injuring nearly 15.

The air raid killed ‘large numbers of rebel cadres,’ air force spokesman Group Capt Ajantha De Silva said.

The bombing was carried out to neutralise LTTE attacks, the spokesman said as military officials stated that offensives would continue to capture parts of the Mannar region occupied by the guerrillas.

The shift in fighting to the north came as President Mahinda Rajapakse and military officials vowed to take over northern rebel strongholds days after troops ousted the rebels from the eastern Batticaloa region.