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Sri Lanka shells kill civilians Many deaths in Sri Lanka fighting
(about 8 hours later)
Eight civilians have been killed by mortar fire on villages in Batticaloa, eastern Sri Lanka. Eight civilians and five soldiers have been reported killed in the latest violence in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan military blamed Tamil Tiger rebels for the attacks, saying two children were among the dead and 18 other people were wounded. Sri Lanka's military and Tamil Tiger rebels traded blame over Thursday's mortar attack killing the civilians, said to have included several children.
The Tigers said the army fired the shells from a military camp. Separately, five soldiers were killed on Friday in a roadside blast triggered by the Tigers, the army said.
Despite a ceasefire in place on paper, Sri Lanka has been sliding back towards civil war, with more than 4,000 people killed in the past 15 months. More than 4,000 people have died as violence has escalated in the last 15 months, despite a ceasefire.
Counter claimsCounter claims
The army has been carrying out intensified operations against rebel bases in the east. The army has been carrying out fresh operations against rebel bases in the east and both sides have accused each other over Thursday's mortar attack.
It said the mortar fire that struck the settlements came from the Tamil Tiger base at Thoppigala. The army said the mortars were fired from a Tamil Tiger base at Thoppigala.
Military spokesman Brig Prasad Samarasinghe told the Associated Press news agency: "We are left with no option, but to intensify our operations to silence their guns."Military spokesman Brig Prasad Samarasinghe told the Associated Press news agency: "We are left with no option, but to intensify our operations to silence their guns."
The pro-Tamil Tiger website TamilNet said the mortar fire had originated from the army's Murakkoddaanchaenai camp.The pro-Tamil Tiger website TamilNet said the mortar fire had originated from the army's Murakkoddaanchaenai camp.
It said six shells were fired and eight houses were damaged.It said six shells were fired and eight houses were damaged.
It named the eight dead, listing two two-year-old girls and two boys aged 18 or under. Three of the children were from the same family, it said.It named the eight dead, listing two two-year-old girls and two boys aged 18 or under. Three of the children were from the same family, it said.
It said a ninth civilian had since died of wounds. It said a ninth civilian had since died of wounds. At least 17 people are believed to have been hurt.
The army and the rebels regularly blame each other for attacks and the claims often cannot be independently verified.The army and the rebels regularly blame each other for attacks and the claims often cannot be independently verified.
The Sri Lankan military said its five soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb on Friday morning, near the town of Vavuniya.
The latest deaths came in a week of increasing attacks.The latest deaths came in a week of increasing attacks.
On Thursday, Sri Lankan navy troops sunk three Tamil Tiger boats off the island's north-east coast, killing at least 15 rebels, the military said.On Thursday, Sri Lankan navy troops sunk three Tamil Tiger boats off the island's north-east coast, killing at least 15 rebels, the military said.
On Tuesday, a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber killed himself and at least seven others in an attack on an army camp in Batticaloa district, the army said.On Tuesday, a Tamil Tiger suicide bomber killed himself and at least seven others in an attack on an army camp in Batticaloa district, the army said.
On Monday the rebels carried out their first aerial attack.On Monday the rebels carried out their first aerial attack.
At least one light plane bombed an air force facility next to the international airport near the capital, Colombo.At least one light plane bombed an air force facility next to the international airport near the capital, Colombo.