Senior rebel killed in Sri Lanka

The army denies any links with the breakaway rebel faction

A top Tamil Tiger and four other rebels have been shot dead in government-held territory in eastern Sri Lanka.

It is unclear who carried out the attack, which took place about 40km (25 miles) north-west of Batticaloa.

Rebel political leader E Kaushalyan is the most senior Tiger killed since a ceasefire began in February 2002.

The authorities suspect supporters of a renegade Tiger commander, but a pro-rebel website blames paramilitary forces working with the army.

BBC correspondents say the latest violence will deal a further serious blow to efforts to restart peace talks which stalled in 2003.

The peace process has suffered setbacks in recent weeks as the Sri Lankan government and rebels have traded accusations about the allocation of aid to survivors of the Asian tsunami.

Four injured

Mr Kaushalyan was travelling from the rebel-held town of Omanthai to Batticaloa when his vehicle came under attack about five or six kilometres from the nearest army checkpoint.

Two policemen escorting the Tiger leader were injured, as was a local politician and one other person.

Police are investigating the shooting incident and have not said who carried it out.

But army spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayaka told the BBC that the authorities suspected supporters of renegade Tiger commander Colonel Karuna, who split from the rebels in March 2004.

Since then, there has been an upsurge of violence in which government and rebel supporters have died in the east, although the month since the tsunami saw a brief lull.

More than 60,000 people have died in violence in Sri Lanka since the rebels began their fight for a homeland for minority Tamils in the island's north and east.