Twelve hurt in Sri Lanka protest

Reports from northern Sri Lanka say 12 people have been injured when police opened fire at protesters.

The crowd had been calling for the closure of the office of the Eelam People's Democratic Party in Nelliady, near Jaffna.

The BBC correspondent said police began firing after the crowd tried to break into the office, and set off a number of petrol bombs.

The EPDP bitterly opposes the Tamil Tigers, who are currently involved in peace talks with the Sri Lankan Government.

Rivalry between the EPDP and the Tamil Tigers has been simmering, as the Tigers seek to exclude the rival party from the Jaffna peninsula.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service