Saturday, August 12 2006 14:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: Sri Lanka's air force bombed Tamil Tiger-held areas in the country's east yesterday (Aug 11, 2006), rebel and military officials said.

The air force targeted Batticaloa district some 90 kilometers (56 miles) south of a key waterway where the two sides have fought for the past two weeks.

An air force official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of air force regulations, said the strike was carried out to stop Tamil rebel movements to the waterway to support rebels already there.

"We understand that there are several casualties, we are trying to collect information," said Seevarathnam Puleedevan, a senior rebel leader from the rebels' northern headquarters referring to the air attack.

The fighting yesterday left 61 combatants dead, according to the two sides.

Earlier, Puleedevan said the rebels had appealed to Norway for help in getting food and other essentials to 42,000 civilians trapped in fighting in areas around the waterway.

"We have urged Norway to address the humanitarian needs of the civilians trapped here. It is getting serious," Puleedevan said.

The appeal came on the second day of intensified fighting at the waterway, where the military is trying to secure the canal after a dispute with the rebels triggered some of the worst clashes since the two sides signed a Norwegian-brokered cease-fire in 2002.

A Norwegian Embassy spokesman, Tom Knappskog, declined to comment on the specific request for help.