SUSPECTED TAMIL TIGER REBELS OPENED FIRE ON SAILORS AT A MARKET IN NORTHWESTERN SRI LANKA, SPARKING A CLASH THAT KILLED ONE SAILOR AND ONE REBEL, WHILE A SOLDIER WAS WOUNDED IN A SEPARATE ATTACK, THE MILITARY SAID, ACCORDING TO AP. THE ATTACKS WERE THE LATEST IN A RECENT SURGE OF VIOLENCE THAT HAS THREATENED A 2002 CEASE-FIRE ACCORD BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TAMIL TIGERS, RAISING FEARS OF A RETURN TO ALL-OUT CIVIL WAR ON THIS TROPICAL ISLAND OFF THE SOUTHERN TIP OF INDIA. IN THE FIRST ATTACK, TWO SUSPECTED REBELS OPENED FIRE ON TWO SAILORS WHILE THEY WERE SHOPPING AT A MARKET IN THE TOWN OF MANNAR, SPARKING A CLASH THAT KILLED ONE SAILOR AND ONE REBEL, SAID NAVY SPOKESMAN CMDR. D.K.P. DASSANAYAKE. EARLIER, SUSPECTED REBELS LOBBED A GRENADE THAT WOUNDED A SOLDIER IN MANNAR, ABOUT 220 KILOMETERS (140 MILES) NORTHWEST OF THE CAPITAL, COLOMBO, SAID ARMY SPOKESMAN BRIG. PRASAD SAMARASINGHE. IN ANOTHER ATTACK, SUSPECTED REBELS FIRED MORTARS AT A POLICE POST LATE THURSDAY, WOUNDING TWO POLICE OFFICERS IN MUTTUR, A TOWN 230 KILOMETERS (140 MILES) NORTHEAST OF COLOMBO, SAMARASINGHE SAID FRIDAY.
