A Sri Lankan military helicopter release flares as it flies over the naval base in Trincomalee August 12, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    BEIJING, Aug.14 (Xinhuanet) -- Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels said 43 schoolgirls were killed when the government's warplanes bombed an orphanage in the rebel-held Mullaitivu district on Monday, according to media reports.

    The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said in a statement that air force jets bombed the Senchcholai, an orphanage run by the Tigers.

    "The schoolchildren were participating in a first aid seminar organised by Senchcholai," the statement said. "The number of children killed is feared to be higher."

    An additional 60 children were wounded in the air raids, the statement added.

    Tiger military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan said the students were between 15 and 18 years old.

    There was no immediate reaction from the government, but military officials confirmed that the air force was keeping up attacks in support of ground troops resisting a rebel advance on the Jaffna peninsula.

    Also according to a report by AP, the Tiger dismissed the prospect for peace talks as impossible though Sri Lankan government on Sunday said it was ready to hold peace talks.

    "The Sri Lankan government's offensive attacks make peace talks and the implementation of the ceasefire agreement impossible," media report quoted senior rebel official Seevarathnam Puleedevan as saying in a telephone interview on Sunday.

    Aid workers estimate around 100,000 people have been newly displaced during three weeks of fighting. Dozens are confirmed dead and many fear the eventual death toll will be far higher. Enditem

    (Agencies)

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