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Tamil Tigers attack Lanka army camps
Colombo (dpa) - Heavy fighting in eastern Sri Lanka between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels has expanded from control of a water sluice to port Trincomalee with the militants attacking four army camps Wednesday, according to government and rebel sources.

Militants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) started firing artillery and mortars at the Sri Lankan army camps in Kaddaparichan, Selvanagar, Mahindapura and Thoppur in Trincomalee at 2 a.m. Wednesday, according to pro-rebel website Tamilnet.

The military said two soldiers died while 17 others were wounded and 40 rebels died and at least 70 more injured in the attacks on the army camps, but there was no confirmation of casualties by the rebels.

Tamilnet claimed the LTTE have taken control of the army camps, which the government denied, saying they had "repulsed" the rebels.

Rebel mortar rounds also fell in the town of Muttur and the police station was fired on, said police sources.

The military said that the bus station and town centre were initially vacated due to Tamil Tiger resistances but were later taken back under control of the military and police after additional troops were deployed.

Tamilnet claimed four soldiers were killed and the rebels had control of Muttur jetty, a strategic point of access to Trincomalee harbour area.

Meabwhile, the air force continued to bomb Tiger positions for the eighth consecutive day as the military inched towards the Mavilaru sluice gates, the focal point of the fighting.

The rebels control the sluice that supplies about 60,000 villagers in government-run areas with water.