Raiders Kill 45 Sri Lanka Villagers

Suspected Tamil separatist rebels stormed into a remote northern village of majority Sinhalese early today, dragged sleeping residents from their homes and killed at least 45 men, women and children, military and hospital officials said.

After the attack, the raiders fled north through dense jungle and Sri Lankan troops launched a hunt for them, a military spokesman said. Military officials said they believe that the attack was staged by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which is demanding independence for the northeast, home to most of the 3-million-strong predominantly Hindu Tamil minority.