Sri Lankan war plane crashes

Oct 16, 2006 (AFP) - A Sri Lankan war plane crashed Monday shortly after take off on a mission to attack Tamil Tiger rebels, official sources said adding that pilot ejected and there were no casualties on the ground.



The Israeli-built Kfir jet crashed shortly after take off from the main Katunayake airbase which is located just next to the island's only international aorport, officials said.

Kfir jets have been bombing Tamil Tiger positions since April in tit-for-tat attacks.

News of the crash came hours after a suicide truck bombing targetting bus loads of sailors in northeastern Sri Lanka killed 98 people and wounded scores more. The government blamed the attack on the rebels.