Tamil Tiger rebels claim responsibility for ship attack

Tamil Tiger rebels have claimed responsibility for an attack on a fuel-laden ship that left seven people dead and raised questions about Sri Lanka's maritime safety.

The Voice of Tigers Radio said four rebels, including two women cadres, were killed in Tuesday's attack.

They were members of the rebels' elite Sea Tiger squad which is made up of suicide volunteers, the radio broadcast said.

Three people on board the ship died. The navy rescued 25 others, Sri Lankan navy officials said.

The rebels rammed their explosive-packed boats into the MT Silk Price, which had 28 people on board, sparking a fire. The ship later sank.

The vessel, chartered by the government, was carrying 660 tons of fuel for Jaffna, the main city in the north.

At least five rebels boats were involved in the attack off the port of Point Pedro - located on the northern Jaffna Peninsula, the main battle zone in the separatist war by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

The Jaffna Peninsula can be reached only by sea or air since a stretch of road connecting it to the mainland is controlled by the rebels.

Voice of Tigers Radio said the attack was carried out to avenge the Sri Lankan navy's October 2 attack on a Sea Tiger base. The radio did not say how many rebels were killed in that attack, but Sri Lanka's defence ministry had said 25 Sea Tigers had died.

The latest attack brings into sharp focus the issue of maritime safety in Sri Lanka, an island which is very dependent on imports.