Colombo, Aug 18: Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels shot dead two more Muslims in eastern Sri Lanka aggravating the tense situation in the region, police said today. Gunmen of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) shot dead two men in the town of Sammanturai in the district of Amapara last night, police said.
The killing came as police stepped up security in north-eastern port town of Muttur following new inter-communal clashes between minority Tamils and Muslims.
A night curfew was imposed in Muttur amid fears of renewed clashes following the slaying last week of two Muslim men by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels, police said.
Four policemen were wounded the day before yesterday as they tried to separate mobs in the latest fighting, which was sparked by the detention of two Muslim fishermen by suspected Tiger rebels.
Muslim leader Rauf Hakeem, who is also the government's ports minister and member of a team negotiating peace with the rebels, travelled to Sammanturai today to defuse tension, a spokesman said.
Hakeem was also taking up the issue of harassment of Muslims in the town with security authorities and the Scandinavian team monitoring a truce between the government and rebels, he said.
The latest unrest came as Norway expressed grave concern over a spate of political slayings and violations of the truce by Tamil Tiger rebels.
One of Norway's main concerns is the slaying of more than 40 rivals of the Tigers since the truce went into effect in February 23 last year.
Bureau Report