The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Colombo

At least seven Sri Lankan airmen and 20 rebels were killed in an unprecedented Tamil Tiger coordinated ground and air attack, military officials said Monday.

A four-member crew of a Bell-212 helicopter gunship were killed when they crashed in bad weather while trying to help colleagues under attack at the Anuradhapura military base in the north-central region, officials said.

Three airmen wounded in ground battles died in hospital while another 16 escaped with injuries. "The military has spotted the bodies of 20 Tiger cadres killed in the military counter-attack," a military official in the area said by telephone. Officials said two Mi-24 helicopter gunships were hit by the Tiger ground force which also destroyed an anti-aircraft gun position before rebel aircraft could bomb the base.