A prominent Tamil politician was assassinated in the Sri Lankan capital today and naval attack on two Tamil Tiger boats left six rebels dead, officials said - acts appearing to draw the South Asian country closer to full-scale war.

Twelve Tamil rebels and five Sri Lankan sailors were killed today in a clash near a western naval base, a navy spokesman said – the latest violence threatening to cause a four-year ceasefire to completely collapse.

Sri Lankan troops stormed a village church where about 200 Tamil civilians sought shelter today, shooting indiscriminately and then attacking fishermen in an assault that killed five people and injured 47 more, witnesses said.

A sea battle launched by Tamil Tiger rebels in northern Sri Lanka has left about 50 insurgents and 17 sailors dead or missing, in a sharp escalation of violence that shoved the country back onto brink of civil war today.

A Tamil Tiger rebel suicide boat exploded today after Sri Lankan navy troops fired at it fearing attack by the insurgents.