Concern over new Sri Lanka attack

Rebel factions have been fighting in the east

An attack on a top female Tamil Tiger leader in Sri Lanka has raised more fears of a return to violence threatening a fragile three year truce.

Unidentified gunmen shot and wounded the female rebel leader, Kuveni, in the eastern district of Ampara on Monday, along with two other female rebels.

European monitors say they are concerned about the violence.

Eastern Sri Lanka has been the scene of intense rebel factional fighting over the past year.

Last month a senior rebel leader in the east, E Kousalyan, was shot dead along with four other rebels.

The latest attack came even as Britain's Prince Charles was on a visit to the east to inspect the damage caused by December's tsunami.

All three women have been admitted to a local hospital with reports saying Kuveni's injuries were serious.

Rebel warning

The rebels have blamed the military for carrying out the attack.

"[The] attack took place in an area very close to a Sri Lankan army checkpoint, so there is no doubt in our mind that it is the Sri Lankan military," S Puleedevan, head of the Tiger's peace secretariat, told Reuters.

"If these attacks continue, it will be very difficult for us to remain patient," he added.

The army dismisses the rebel allegation.

European peace monitors have expressed their concern over the rising violence.

"We take the incident very seriously, it just shows how vulnerable the eastern situation is," Helen Olafsdottir, spokesperson for the European mission, is quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

"It destabilizes the ceasefire, there's no doubt about that."

Peace talks between the two sides have been suspended since April 2003.

More than 60,000 people have died since the rebels began their fight for a homeland for minority Tamils.