Sri Lanka on edge over fear of more rebel violence | International News | Reuters.com

Sri Lanka on edge over fear of more rebel violence | International News | Reuters.com: "COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan troops stepped up a vigil in cities and at key military facilities across the island on Thursday amid fears of new attacks by Tamil Tiger rebels as fresh fighting flared in the north of the country.

News of the fighting came a day after the rebels, fighting for an independent Tamil homeland since 1983, launched an apparent suicide mission on a naval base in the southern city of Galle, killing one sailor and losing 15 guerrillas.

'Heavy fighting between Sri Lankan Navy and Liberation Tigers was reported near the coast of Karainagar in Jaffna islets Wednesday night,' said the pro-rebel Web site www.tamilnet.com, adding that details were not yet available.

Sporadic fighting also broke out overnight in the north of the country with the army and the rebels exchanging mortar and artillery fire in the Jaffna region, scene last week of some of the worst battles since a 2002 truce." Read complete post here.