Helicopters hit Tiger islet

COLOMBO, (AFP) - Helicopter gunships launched a rare night assault against a suspected Tamil Tiger base on a small islet in the Jaffna peninsula, the Defence Ministry said yesterday.

The Air Force Mi-24 gunships attacked a “gathering point” of the LTTE at Palaitivu, on the southwestern side of the Jaffna peninsula on Friday night, the Ministry said.

There was no immediate details of casualties or comment from the Tigers.

The attack came as ground troops stepped up an offensive against the Tigers in the northern mainland in a bid to capture the Tiger political capital of Kilinochchi, 330 kilometres (over 200 miles) north of Colombo.

“Troops are forcing the LTTE to flee in total disarray as the military surge continues with strong determination,” the Ministry said.