Sri Lankan government repulses Tiger attack

The Sri Lankan government says it has repulsed attempts by Tamil Tiger rebels to break through its defences east of Jaffna Town, in the north of the island.

A defence ministry spokesman said nine soldiers and seventeen rebels had been killed in intense fighting.

The ministry added that it was maintaining a regular flow of essential supplies to its troops through the main harbour and the Palali airbase on the Jaffna peninsula, despite a claim by the Tigers that they'd heavily bombarded the port.

The Sri Lankan government said only a few mortar rounds had been fired. Thousands of residents have already fled Jaffna Town and the International Red Cross has visited displaced people staying in school buildings outside the town.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service