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Eleven killed in Sri Lanka clash Fierce fghting in east Sri Lanka
(about 5 hours later)
The military in Sri Lanka says at least 11 people have been killed in a clash between the army and the Tamil Tiger rebel group in the east of the country. At least 12 people have been killed in fighting between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tiger rebels in eastern Batticaloa district, the military says.
Officials said at least three soldiers and eight rebels were shot dead in the fighting, which broke out after a rebel attack in Batticaloa district. At least four soldiers died and the bodies of at least eight rebels had been recovered, the military said. The rebels have not commented.
Several others, including civilians, were injured during the incident. At least 14 soldiers were injured in the clash, the military said.
Analysts say the island is sliding back towards full-scale civil war, although a ceasefire remains nominally in force.Analysts say the island is sliding back towards full-scale civil war, although a ceasefire remains nominally in force.
The rebels and the government agreed the truce five years ago but more than 4,000 people have been killed since fighting flared up again in 2005. The rebels and the government agreed the truce five years ago but more than 4,000 people have been killed since fighting flared up again in late 2005.
Wednesday's fighting started when rebels attacked an army camp at Sittandy in Batticaloa, military officials said. Civilians flee
There was no immediate comment by the rebels on the incident. Wednesday's fighting around an army camp at Sittandy near Batticaloa was the heaviest fighting for several months, military officials said.
There has been sporadic fighting in the east, as Lanka's military is moving to areas still held by the Tigers. A spokesman, Lt-Col Upali Rajapakse, said a force of Tamil Tiger rebels attacked four army bases from the land and sea.
More than 40,000 people have fled their homes in the district of Batticaloa. The rebels set up mines and explosives on roads nearby to hamper efforts to bring in reinforcements, he said.
But Sri Lanka's military says the attack was repulsed and during a search operation the bodies of eight rebels, including a woman, were found by the perimeter fence of one of the bases.
There has been an upsurge fighting in the east, and tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in the district of Batticaloa.
The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says government forces have driven the rebels from towns and villages in the Eastern Province and are now trying to capture the remaining pockets still under Tiger control.
The rebels have been fighting for decades for a homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka.