Sri Lanka Navy fires at large suspected rebel arms ship

COLOMBO, Feb 28 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's navy fired at a large ship suspected to be transporting arms for Tamil Tiger rebels today, officials said, adding the 70-75 metre (around 220 ft) long vessel was ablaze off the island's south coast after a series of explosions.

''We fired warning shots and they fired at us,'' said Navy spokesman Commander D K P Dassanayake. ''The ship is on fire and we can see a series of explosions. It is a big ship and is about 190 nautical miles (350 kms) south of the port of Galle.'' He said the incident took place in Sri Lankan waters and away from international shipping lanes.

The incident comes a day after the Tigers slightly injured the Italian and US ambassadors and United Nations representative to Sri Lanka when they shelled a delegation of diplomats led by the island's human rights minister to the restive east.

REUTERS PDM DS1050