Tamil Tigers overrun navy outpost
Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have attacked and destroyed a small navy outpost in the north-west, killing at least three sailors, the military says.
The rebels attacked in six boats at 0215 (2045GMT) and escaped by sea, taking guns and explosives with them, Sri Lanka's defence ministry said.
Four rebels were also killed in the clash, the Tigers said.
The navy said the attack was beaten back and that in a counter-attack its forces destroyed a rebel boat.
Wounded
"Sri Lanka navy outpost at Erukkalampiddi in the Mannar island has come under pre-dawn attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)," the defence ministry website reported.
"The sailors have defended their post effectively," the report said, adding that three sailors and four rebels had been killed.
Four sailors were also wounded in the clash, the website reported.
The rebels admitted that four of their fighters had been killed, but said the casualties suffered by the sailors were much higher.
Violence in Sri Lanka has intensified since January, when the government pulled out of a ceasefire agreement.
The Tigers have fought for a generation for an independent state for the Tamil minority.
At least 70,000 people have died since the civil war began in 1983.
Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have attacked and destroyed a small navy outpost in the north-west, killing at least three sailors, the military says.
The rebels attacked in six boats at 0215 (2045GMT) and escaped by sea, taking guns and explosives with them, Sri Lanka's defence ministry said.
Four rebels were also killed in the clash, the Tigers said.
The navy said the attack was beaten back and that in a counter-attack its forces destroyed a rebel boat.
Wounded
"Sri Lanka navy outpost at Erukkalampiddi in the Mannar island has come under pre-dawn attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)," the defence ministry website reported.
"The sailors have defended their post effectively," the report said, adding that three sailors and four rebels had been killed.
Four sailors were also wounded in the clash, the website reported.
The rebels admitted that four of their fighters had been killed, but said the casualties suffered by the sailors were much higher.
Violence in Sri Lanka has intensified since January, when the government pulled out of a ceasefire agreement.
The Tigers have fought for a generation for an independent state for the Tamil minority.
At least 70,000 people have died since the civil war began in 1983.
