Sri Lanka pounds LTTE positions

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's Air Force carried out aerial strikes against suspected LTTE positions for the third day on Sunday after a bus bombing, suspected to be carried out by the rebels, killed 64 people.

Supersonic jets attacked rebels stronghold in the northern and eastern regions of the island, a military  official said here adding there were no immediate reports of casualties.

The LTTE confirmed air strikes on Saturday but did not provide any details of casualties or damage.

Sunday's airstrikes came as government officials released the bodies of the 64 people killed in Saturday's claymore mine attack in the north-central district of Anuradhapura.

The state will meet the funeral expenses and pay compensation to the families of the victims, a government official in the area said when contacted by telephone.

Meanwhile, international condemnation of the bombing continued while urging the parties to revive their faltering peace process.