Sri Lankan troops, Tamil rebels exchange fire

Fighting broke out near Nagarkovil forward defence line, some 380 km north of Colombo, and continued for more than two hours.

Government troops and Tamil rebels exchanged mortar and artillery fire on Wednesday near a military camp in northern Sri Lanka in a rebel advance on government positions, a pro-rebel website reported.

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Fighting broke out near the Nagarkovil forward defence line in Vadamarachchi, 380 km north of the capital, and continued for more than two hours, the Tamilnet website said.

It said the army had beaten back the rebel advance and casualties were feared.

Military officials in Colombo confirmed the exchange of fire but said they were awaiting details of the incident.