Australia holds 'Tamil Tiger' duo

The Tamil Tiger rebels are fighting the Sri Lankan military

Two men have been arrested in Australia on suspicion of fundraising for Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebel group.

The men were arrested in anti-terrorism raids in Melbourne, and are expected to appear in court later on Tuesday, police have said.

Australia classes the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as the Tigers are known, as a terrorist group.

The rebels have been waging a struggle for independence for the last 35 years, which has claimed 60,000 lives.

Both men arrested in Melbourne face a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail if found guilty of the accusations against them.

"It will be alleged in court that these men are members of an organisation engaging in terrorist activity overseas, and they have been providing active, material support to that group," said Australian Federal Police Counter Terrorism Manager Frank Prendergast.

But he stressed that the men's activities posed no terror threat to Australia.