Tamil rebels sink gunboat

The rebels were said to be ferrying in supplies

Tamil Tiger rebels have sunk a government gunboat in a clash off Sri Lanka's north-eastern coast, military officials say.

Five sailors are missing, presumed dead..

There are conflicting reports about who initiated the attack at sea.

A spokesman for the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence said the Tigers attacked two gunboats off Mullaitivu, near to the Tigers' main base.

It says its gunboats were surrounded as they set off from Kankesanthurai port in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

In the exchange of fire that followed, one gunboat sank.

The area where the attack took place is about 280km (168 miles) north-east of Colombo.

But some reports suggest the Sri Lankan navy initiated the attack after learning that the rebels were unloading supplies at sea and ferrying them ashore on small boats.

These reports say three navy gunships initially fired at eight rebel boats and then at least 12 more rebel boats came to their defence.

The Tamil Tigers have not commented on the sea incident.

But their clandestine radio station, the Voice of Tigers, reported that Sri Lankan MiG 27 fighter jets bombed rebel controlled areas, killing four civilians and injuring 11.

Ceasefire

The Tamil Tigers are currently observing a unilateral ceasefire, although they have said they will defend themselves against attack.

This was the first major clash since the rebels declared their ceasefire on 24 December last year. The truce has been extended twice since and is set to expire on 24 March.

The Sri Lankan military has accused the rebels of violating their own ceasefire on nearly 100 occasions.

BBC Colombo correspondent Frances Harrison says the incident in surprising in that government gunboats were so close to the shore when it is standard operating procedure for naval boats to travel 70km away from the coast so as to be out of site and range of rebel forces.

In this case the gunboat was sunk only eight nautical miles offshore, and in an area where the Tigers are known to have a base.