Saturday, July 29 2006 10:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: Sri Lanka's air force bombed suspected Tamil Tiger positions in the northeast of the island for the third straight day amid a deepening crisis over water.

War planes bombed position of the Tamil Tigers at Verugal where the guerrillas are allegedly blocking an irrigation canal that supplies water to thousands of farmers.

"We will ensure that the people somehow get the water," defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters here.

He declined to give details, but said the military will move to ensure that the canal was opened again.

Hundreds of residents had threatened to march into the Tiger-held territory to demand water, but the military held them back and ordered air attacks against the rebels, officials said.

There was no immediate reaction from the Tigers to the latest air attack.