Colombo, Dec 27: The Sri Lankan air force on Saturday bombed suspected hideouts of Tamil Tiger chieftain Velupillai Prabhakaran in thick jungles of Mullaitivu, a north-eastern district which commands access to the LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi.

A military spokesman said jets had targeted a boat in which Mr Prabhakaran was in conclave with the Tigers’ top brass.

The air force also strafed Iranamadu district, where LTTE has put up fierce resistance so far as it straddles a highway leading to Kilinochchi. The bombing destroyed a tractor ferrying Tiger guerrillas, the military claimed.

The statement said the two sides were engaged in ferocious battles for key LTTE bases in three towns near Mullaitivu district.

The spokesman said Mr Prabhakaran had begun shifting his hideout frequently after the army encircled Mullaitivu.

PRANAB VISIT: The head of LTTE’s political wing told a Tamil Nadu magazine in an interview that his group had pinned great hopes on Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Colombo next week. He said the Tigers expected Mr Mukherjee to press the Sri Lankan government to order a ceasefire and go for peace talks.

“The Tigers are eager to re-establish friendly ties with India,” the LTTE representative said.