24 dead as Sri Lanka troops pound Tiger base

COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lankan warplanes destroyed a suspected Tamil Tiger logistics base in the northeast Sunday after ground attacks left 19 guerrillas and five security personnel dead, the Defence Ministry said.

Air force fighter jets pounded a "logistics base and combat vehicle conversion plant" in Mullaitivu district early Sunday, the Ministry said.

"Pilots confirm that the target was successfully engaged on accurate military intelligence and the entire terrorist complex was on fire after the air strike," the Ministry said in a statement.

However, the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said Sri Lankan jets had killed two civilians and wounded 11 more in the Sunday morning attack.