Thousands flee Sri Lanka fighting as shells fall

TRINCOMALEE, Aug 4 (Reuters) Thousands of civilians fled a Muslim town at the centre of a battle between troops and Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka's restive east on foot today, as shells fell nearby, the Red Cross said.

An estimated 22,000 civilians are stuck in the town of Mutur, where rebels have infiltrated and are in firefights with troops.

Civilians say most buildings have been damaged by artillery and mortar fire.

''We just got information that they started moving.

According to information in Mutur, everyone will leave -- that's 6,000-7,000 families,'' said Yvonne Dunton, head of the Trincomalee office of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

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