Five killed in Lanka amid UN envoy's visit

At least five people were killed in clashes across Sri Lanka's embattled north-east region coinciding with the visit of a top UN official.

At least five people were killed in clashes across Sri Lanka's embattled north-east region coinciding with the visit of a top UN official.

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Two Tamil Tiger rebels were shot dead by security forces in the north-eastern Trincomalee district on Tuesday evening, officials said.

In the northern district of Vavuniya, the Tiger rebels said two civilians were killed on Tuesday while another man blew himself up in the same area.

The clashes came as UN Humanitarian Coordinator and Deputy Secretary General John Holmes visited the troubled region. He went to Batticaloa district this morning.

Holmes, who is due to leave tomorrow after a four-day visit, was in the island to discuss the humanitarian crisis in the country, officials said.