Rival factions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on Friday exchanged heavy gunfire in north-eastern Sri Lanka in the first major clash since the split in the rebel movement.
Following the clash the Sri Lankan government declared a red-alert.
Cadres of the main Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and men controlled by renegade commander V Muralitharan alias Karuna fired mortars and small arms fire for nearly two hours across the Verugal river, military officials said.
"There are no signs of casualties brought to government-controlled hospitals on either side at the moment," a military official said. "But it looks like both suffered casualties."
Muralitharan, commander for the eastern districts of Batticaloa and Ampara, broke away from the leadership of the LTTE on March 3 sparking fears of a factional war.
Both sides had up to 1,000 fighters each deployed along the banks of the Verugal, which marks the border between north-eastern port districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa.
Karuna, as Muralitharan is known, had accused the main LTTE leadership of sending intelligence operatives to the region to start a clash.
There was no immediate comment from either of the rebel factions.
"The military and the police have sounded a red alert after the heavy overnight exchange of fire by the Tigers," an official said.
