Sri Lanka bombs major rebel northern defence line

---

COLOMBO, Nov 16 (AP): Sri Lanka's air force pounded the Tamil Tiger rebels' main northern defence line Sunday, a day after government forces dismantled the last rebel stronghold on the island's west coast, the military said.
Fighter jets bombed the Tamil separatists' defense line in the Muhamalai area of Jaffna peninsula, north of the rebels' de facto state, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said.
He said the jets also hit rebel artillery and mortar positions in retaliation for rebel shelling of soldiers on Saturday. Nanayakkara said details of damage and casualties were not immediately available.
On Saturday, the military announced it had dismantled the last rebel defense on the island's west coast and secured a land route to government-held Jaffna.
It was a key victory for the military, which has vowed to finally defeat the guerrillas by year's end.
The military has had no land link to the northern peninsula for more than a decade, forcing the government to depend on boats and aircraft for access. The main highway to the peninsula remains under rebel control.
Nanayakkara said the peninsula's main military base no longer falls within the rebels' artillery range because of Saturday's gains. Nearly 40,000 soldiers are believed to be housed on the base.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa hailed the military's triumph in a televised speech Saturday and urged the rebels to lay down their arms and surrender.