Military Attacks Tamil Positions

The military attacked Tamil rebel positions on the Jaffna Peninsula on Sunday in its first major offensive since a cease-fire ended in April. Ten civilians were killed and 75,000 fled their homes.

At least 10,000 troops backed by warplanes, warships, tanks and long-range field guns took part in the assault on the guerrilla-held peninsula 185 miles north of Colombo, said military spokesman Brig. Sarath Munasinghe.

The warplanes reportedly bombed four rebel bases. The rebels offered little resistance at the first, but fought back as the battle continued.

At least 85 civilians were injured in Jaffna town and 10 of them died, said a military official speaking on condition of anonymity. More than 75,000 civilians fled the fighting, he said.

At least two soldiers were killed and 29 wounded, the official said. An air force helicopter strafing rebel positions was slightly damaged by rebel small arms fire and made an emergency landing at Palali base in northern Sri Lanka, said Lt. Col. S. Weerasekera, another military spokesman.