Sri Lanka army advance on rebels, come under fire

COLOMBO, July 30 (Reuters) Sri Lankan troops today moving to secure a Tamil Tiger rebel-held water supply came under fire and found themselves in a minefield, the military said, as they launched the first deliberate advance since a 2002 truce.

More than 800 people have been killed so far this year, with the closing of a water channel from an eastern rebel-held area to goverment-held farms prompting a surge in violence in recent days including air and artillery strikes.

Today, ground forces were sent in to secure irrigation for the ethnic majority Sinhalese farms in the area, south of the northeastern port of Trincomalee. A clash erupted shortly after but there was no word on casualties.

''They are so close to the sluice gate but there seems to be a confrontation - a firefight,'' said a military spokesman, referring to the troops. ''There are also mines all over the place. They are clearing them now.'' Both the government and the Tigers claim control over the site of the reservoir, which lies in an area where the border between the foes is ill-defined. However the ground reality is that the Tigers control the area, military sources said.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who want a separate ethnic Tamil homeland and pulled out of peace talks in April, deny shutting the sluice gate themselves and say it was done by local Tamil civilians angry at the government.

The Tigers could not immediately be reached to comment on any new clashes.

Earlier, local Tiger political leader S Elilan said the rebels had not yet observed any movement, but warned the army against entering their territory.

''If the military intend to advance into our area then they will see the consequences in a very strong manner,'' he told Reuters.

REUTERS PKS BS1504