Tamil Tiger rebels attacked a naval base in an apparent suicide mission in the southern city of Galle on Wednesday, leading to at least 16 deaths.
Updated at 4.50pm
COLOMBO: Tamil Tiger rebels attacked a naval base in an apparent suicide mission in the southern city of Galle on Wednesday, leading to at least 16 deaths and triggering brief looting of minority Tamil shops.
It was the latest in a series of blows to an already battered peace process that have dimmed hopes ahead of planned peace talks between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Geneva on Oct. 28-29.
Wednesday's attack on the Dakshina base in Galle came two days after nearly 100 people, mostly navy sailors, were killed in a suicide bombing on a convoy in a north-central district.
"Five Sea Tiger boats ... disguised as fishing boats arrived to attack the Dakshina naval base," the defence ministry said.
"The navy destroyed ... three suicide boats and the other two approached the Galle harbour, self-detonating at the entrance," it said in a statement.
Military officers and the pro-rebel Web site www.tamilnet.com said 15 rebels were on the boats. One navy sailor was killed, and 15 wounded, the military added.
Smoke billowed from two or three spots on the sea front after the explosions and dozens of residents gathered on a road by the beach as troops took position, witnesses said.
News of the raid sparked minor looting in Galle, with some Sinhala criminal gangs targeting two shops belonging to the minority Tamil community, residents and police said.
Police opened fire in the air and dispersed the mobs before bringing the situation under control, they said. A curfew was also imposed on the town.
Elsewhere, at least 20 vehicles being driven by Tamils and minority Muslims were stoned and damaged by Sinhala gangs in the north-central region where Monday's suicide attack took place, Tamilnet said. Local police said the report was false.
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