LTTE begins factional fighting: Red alert declared

Rival factions of LTTE exchanged heavy gunfire in Lanka in the first major clash since split in the rebel movement.

Rival factions of LTTE on Friday exchanged heavy gunfire in north-eastern Sri Lanka in the first major clash since the split in the rebel movement, forcing the Government to declare a red-alert, officials said.

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Cadres of the main Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and men controlled by a renegade commander fired mortars and small arms fire for nearly two hours across the Verugal river, military officials said.

"There are no signs of casualties brought to government-controlled hospitals on either side at the moment," a military official said. "But it looks like both suffered casualties."

Tiger commander for the eastern districts of Batticaloa and Amparai, V Muralitharan, broke away from the leadership of LTTE on March 3 sparking fears of a factional war.

Both sides had up to 1,000 fighters each deployed along the banks of the Verugal, which marks the border between north-eastern port districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa.

Karuna had accused the main LTTE leadership of sending intelligence operatives to the region to start a clash.

There was no immediate comment from either of the rebel factions on Friday, but Government sources said they went on a red alert fearing consequences.

"The military and the police have sounded a red alert after the heavy overnight exchange of fire by the Tigers," an official said.