Sri Lanka protesters injured in clash

The civil war has taken its toll in northern Sri Lanka

By Frances Harrison BBC correspondent in Colombo

Reports from northern Sri Lanka say 12 people have been injured after police opened fire at unruly protestors outside the office of a Tamil militia party.

The incident occurred in Nelliady, 30 kilometres north-east of Jaffna, where a crowd had been calling for the removal of the office of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP).

The EPDP are bitterly opposed to the Tamil Tigers who are currently involved in peace talks with the government.

The local police say protestors were picketing the EPDP office from morning but left after the police asked them to go.

According to the police, the protestors returned at noon and while they were talking to them one group tried to break into the EPDP office.

The police then tried to disperse the unruly crowd whom they say exploded at least four petrol bombs.

Injuries

There have also been reports that the protestors tried to attack a prison vehicle.

The EPDP are opposed to the Tamil Tigers

The police used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up the crowd but it is not clear if these caused all the injuries to members of the crowd because a grenade also exploded.

Police don't know where the grenade came from.

Reports from Jaffna hospital also say that one of the injured was hit in the ear by a regular bullet during the police firing.

Among the injured was a local journalist working for an international radio station.

The human rights commission in Jaffna says police have arrested 12 people in connection with the clash and asked shops in the area to remain closed.

Rivalry between the EPDP and the Tigers is simmering as the Tigers, who enjoy more local support and these days more political patronage, are trying to assert their dominance and exclude the rival party from the Jaffna Peninsula.

In the past, the EPDP had a close relationship with the army and police as it was an important political ally for the last government as well as a military ally in the campaign against the Tigers.

Because of this year's peace process, the Tigers have now opened political offices in government-controlled areas like the Jaffna peninsula - and they are now moving freely where once they would have faced arrest.