This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6061184.stm
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lankan naval base 'attacked' | Sri Lankan naval base 'attacked' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A naval base in the southern Sri Lankan port of Galle has come under attack from suspected Tamil Tiger fighters, the military has said. | A naval base in the southern Sri Lankan port of Galle has come under attack from suspected Tamil Tiger fighters, the military has said. |
| The suspected rebels infiltrated the port and at least two people had been killed, security sources said. | |
| The Dakshina naval facility is 100km (70 miles) south of the capital Colombo in an area not known for rebel attacks. | The Dakshina naval facility is 100km (70 miles) south of the capital Colombo in an area not known for rebel attacks. |
| The incident comes two days after the country's worst suicide bombing, which killed almost 100 people. | The incident comes two days after the country's worst suicide bombing, which killed almost 100 people. |
| Gunboats | Gunboats |
| The suspected rebels entered Galle harbour in at least three boats on Tuesday, police and the military said. | |
| Witnesses reported gunfire and a number of explosions. | |
| Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told AFP news agency: "The attack is going on at the moment and we have no reports of any commercial shopping areas being attacked. | |
| Galle suffered badly during the Asian tsunami of 2004 | |
| "Obviously they have come to Galle on a suicide mission." | "Obviously they have come to Galle on a suicide mission." |
| He said gunboats had been sent to the port to counter the attack. | He said gunboats had been sent to the port to counter the attack. |
| Police using loudspeakers have urged people to leave their homes. | Police using loudspeakers have urged people to leave their homes. |
| Galle is a popular destination for foreign tourists. It also suffered badly during the Asian tsunami. | |
| The Tamil Tigers have made no comment on the latest incident. | |
| At least 2,000 people have been killed in violence this year in Sri Lanka, the military and ceasefire monitors say. | At least 2,000 people have been killed in violence this year in Sri Lanka, the military and ceasefire monitors say. |
| Monday's bombing resulted in more fatalities than any other suicide attack in Sri Lanka's long and bloody civil conflict. | Monday's bombing resulted in more fatalities than any other suicide attack in Sri Lanka's long and bloody civil conflict. |
| A military bus convoy was attacked near the town of Habarana, 190km (120 miles) north-east of the capital Colombo. | A military bus convoy was attacked near the town of Habarana, 190km (120 miles) north-east of the capital Colombo. |
| The rebels did not confirm or deny carrying out the attack but said it was justified. | The rebels did not confirm or deny carrying out the attack but said it was justified. |
| Both the government and Tamil Tigers say they will attend peace talks in Geneva next week, although few expect a breakthrough. | |
| Before a ceasefire was sealed in 2002, more than 60,000 people were killed in two decades of civil war. | |
| The Tamil Tigers are fighting for an independent homeland in the north and east of the country, and claim that ethnic Tamils have suffered decades of discrimination at the hands of Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority. |