TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka, April 26 (UPI) -- Tens of thousands of people fled their homes Wednesday, after Sri Lanka's air force resumed airstrikes against Tamil Tiger camps.
Police reported that air attacks were carried out Wednesday in the northeastern city of Trincomalee. The military also bombed a cluster of rebel Tiger boats Tuesday, The Lanka Academic reported.
Some 40,000 people were leaving the area to seek safety in the jungle, local authorities told The BBC. At least 15 civilians had been killed since the strikes began Tuesday, a local rebel leader said.
The air assault followed Tuesday's suicide bombing of the army chief's motorcade in Colombo, leaving Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka badly wounded and 10 others dead.
The Tamil Tigers have denied any involvement in the suicide attack. They have protested the bombing and have accused the Sri Lankan government of breaking the cease-fire.
The United States condemned the attack, which was blamed on a "Black Tiger" female suicide bomber who had pretended to be pregnant.
A BBC reporter in Colombo said the situation in Sri Lanka is going from "crisis to crisis" as families leave their homes.
Negotiators involved in the Sri Lankan peace process called an emergency meeting for Friday in Oslo, Norway, The BBC reported.
