Lankan army denies rebels' claim of hitting an air force jet

The Sri Lankan military on Friday denied the claim made by Tamil Tiger rebels about hitting a Lankan Air Force jet fighter during a bombing mission.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they shot and damaged a Kfir jet fighter just north of Vavuniya on Thursday and released pictures of what they called parts of the plane.

"Upon being hit, the aircraft flew away at a very low altitude with some of its parts falling apart," LTTE spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan said in a statement.

"The area is being searched by the ground troops of the LTTE.