Colombo, Aug 22: Sri Lanka today slapped fresh curfews in Muslim towns in the island's east as sectarian tensions mounted after the abduction of two villagers by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels, officials said. The night curfew which was eased at dawn in Kalmunai and Sammanturai was being reimposed immediately after Friday prayers in the two Muslim-majority towns, police officials said.

They said tension had gripped the region following the abduction of two Muslim men on Tuesday by suspected members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The rebels have denied involvement and blamed forces "opposed to the peace process."

The Tigers themselves pulled out of the negotiations with the government in April 21 after accusing it of failing to deliver on promises made at six rounds of talks since September. The government announced yesterday that it planned to recruit 500 policemen from the area in a bid to curb violence against the minority Muslims.

Four Muslims have been slain in the eastern province in the past week. The LTTE has also been accused of killing at least 40 Tamil rivals, military informants and a senior police intelligence officer since a truce went into effect in February 2002.

Bureau Report