Rebel attack kills 5 Sri Lanka troops, wounds 18

COLOMBO, Aug 2 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels killed five military personnel and wounded 18 with volleys of artillery shells and mortar bombs in the island's east today.

''We have two soldiers killed in action and 12 wounded and three Navy killed and six wounded,'' said military spokesman Major Upali Rajapakse. ''We do not know how many civilians have been killed.'' He said Air Force jets had resumed air raids -- for an eighth consecutive day -- on rebel positions, and said troops were still trying to reach a water sluice the government accuse the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam of shutting to choke supplies to government-held territory.

REUTERS DKB VV1043