Navy claims Tamil Tiger attack

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka's Navy said it came under attack from the Tamil Tigers' sea wing yesterday and at least four were killed in a separate claymore mine blast.

It was the latest violence to raise fears of a return to civil war.

The Navy said five armed Sea Tiger boats, including two suicide craft, approached one of its vessels in waters off the northeastern coast of Trincomalee. When the Navy tried to investigate, it was attacked.

"They have opened fire and attacked our Dvora," said Navy spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake, referring to the Israeli-built Dvora fast-attack craft. "We retaliated in self-defence."

Five sailors were wounded in the exchange, Dassanayake said, adding he did not know about Tiger casualties.

The pro-rebel Tamilnet website said the previous night a Sea Tiger transport in the same area had to defend itself against artillery fire from shore. No casualties were reported.

Near Trincomalee town, a mix of ethnic majority Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims, four civilians were killed in a suspected rebel claymore fragmentation mine attack on a naval foot patrol, the Army said. Four civilians and four sailors were wounded.

At least 130 have died in suspected Tiger mine attacks, a suicide bombing, government air and artillery strikes, riots and political killings in the past month.

- REUTERS