Agence France-Presse,
COLOMBO: Tamil Tiger rebels attacked and destroyed a navy outpost in north-western Sri Lanka on Wednesday, killing at least three sailors and losing four fighters of their own, a navy spokesman said.
The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) smashed the Irukkalampiddi naval detachment and escaped with unspecified weapons and ammunition, the spokesman said.
He said the navy destroyed a rebel boat in a counter-attack and killed four guerrillas, including a key leader who led the assault.
The pre-dawn attack came nearly two weeks after the guerrillas launched a similar offensive against another naval facility further north in the Jaffna peninsula.
The navy spokesman said four sailors were also wounded in Wednesday's fire fight and that the security forces had reinforced the outpost and regained control over the area.
The Tigers, quoted by the pro-rebel Tamilnet website, admitted losing four guerrillas in the commando-style operation but said they captured key weapons and radar equipment from the navy.
Tiger commandos were in full control of the navy installation for almost two hours and destroyed the camp before leaving the area, officials said.
“Four Tiger commandos were killed in action,” Tamilnet said.
Machine guns, mortars, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, an anti-tank weapon and explosives were among the items seized, the website reported.
Tiger officials reportedly launched the offensive in memory of Lieutenant Colonel Kadaafi, a commander of the Sea Tiger Special Engineering Division, who was killed two months ago.
The rebels are leading a drawn-out campaign for independence for the island's minority Tamils who are concentrated in the northern and eastern areas of the island. Tens of thousands have been killed in fighting since 1972.
