SUSPECTED TAMIL TIGER REBEL ATTACKS KILLED THREE POLICEMEN AND LEFT TWO SOLDIERS MISSING ON SUNDAY, THE ARMY SAID, AND REBELS SAID THEY WERE ATTACKED BY GOVERNMENT FORCES AS A RECENT UPSURGE OF VIOLENCE CONTINUED, REUTERS REPORTED. IF GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES ARE CORRECT THAT 25-30 LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM (LTTE) REBELS WERE KILLED IN A NAVAL CLASH ON SATURDAY, MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE THURSDAY, THE WORST VIOLENCE SINCE A 2002 CEASEFIRE HALTED TWO DECADES OF WAR. POLICE DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL GAMINI SILVA TOLD REUTERS A POLICE WATER TANKER WAS HIT WHEN A CLAYMORE FRAGMENTATION MINE EXPLODED NEAR THE NORTHERN TOWN OF VAVUNIYA, JUST SOUTH OF REBEL TERRITORY. HE BLAMED THE TIGERS. THE ARMY SAID THE TIGERS FIRED ON A FOOT PATROL IN THE SAME AREA. THE TROOPS RETURNED FIRE BUT TWO SOLDIERS WERE MISSING IN ACTION. IN ANOTHER VAVUNIYA INCIDENT, TWO SUSPECTED REBELS WERE ARRESTED AT A CHECKPOINT BUT TWO OTHERS ESCAPED. SOME 700 PEOPLE HAVE DIED SO FAR THIS YEAR, NORDIC CEASEFIRE MONITORS SAY, ALMOST ALL OF THEM SINCE EARLY APRIL.
