COLOMBO, June 16: The Sri Lankan military pounded Tamil Tiger positions in the northern and eastern parts of the country by land, sea and air for a second day on Friday after holding the guerilla outfit responsible for the previous day’s bomb attack on a bus that killed 64 people. A spokesman for the military said jets strafed LTTE positions in the eastern Trincomalee district and the artillery shelled a rebel base in the northern Mullaitivu district.

“We targeted three LTTE bases in the eastern Trincomalee district and northern Mullaitivu on Friday morning,” Brig Prasad Samarasinghe said, but did not state if the attacks would continue.

“We cannot reveal what decisions have been taken at the military level,” Mr Samarasinghe told Dawn.

A pro LTTE website, Tamil Net, alleged the air force had targeted camps housing the tsunami-affected in Mullaitivu.

In a statement the government reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire, saying at the same time it would take tough measures against the LTTE.

“We are committed to the ceasefire, but we will fight terrorism,” a spokesman said.

“We have to talk to the international community about our continued commitment to the ceasefire of Feb 2002. In the meantime necessary military action will be taken to prevent the LTTE from committing any further barbaric terrorist acts of this nature,” the spokesman said, referring to the bus bomb attack.