Suspected rebels hit Sri Lanka naval base

[madokie]

By ERANGA JAYAWARDENA

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061018/ap_on_re_as/sri_lanka


GALLE, Sri Lanka - Suspected Tamil rebels posing as fishermen blew up two of their boats in a suicide ambush on a naval base, killing at least one sailor in the first such attack on Sri Lanka's touristy southern coast, the military said. Police imposed an open-ended curfew in the town.

Two sailors were also missing and at least 12 others wounded in the attack in the resort town of Galle, while two navy fast boats and another small boat suffered damage, a Defense Ministry spokesman said, adding that 14 civilians were also wounded.

Police imposed an open-ended curfew in Galle, and an Associated Press reporter there said the town was calm but under heavy security.

"A curfew is being imposed very strictly ... and no one can come into the city and cause damage," Galle police Senior Superintendent Keerethi de Silva said.