COLOMBO, Aug 29, 2007 (AFP) - Four people have been killed in new violence across Sri Lanka's restive northern and eastern regions, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.

The military said troops shot dead a suspected Tamil Tiger rebel in the northern district of Jaffna on Wednesday as he tried to throw a hand grenade at troops manning a checkpoint.

The military suffered no casualties, the ministry said.

Security forces also shot dead three suspected Tamil Tiger rebels who tried to breach a military defence line in Muhamalai on Tuesday night in the island's north, the ministry said.

There was no immediate reaction from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which has been locked in combat with the government since 1972 for a separate state for minority Tamils.

The 35-year old ethnic conflict has claimed over 60,000 lives.

©2007 AFP All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed. All reproduction or redistribution is expressly forbidden without the prior written agreement of AFP.

top