Tamil Tiger fighters have attacked three army camps and pushed into government territory near the eastern port of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka, a day after suicide bombers tried to sink a ship with 850 troops on board.
Officials said five military personnel and two civilians were killed, while civilian witnesses saw the corpses of five female Tiger fighters on a road near the port.
Police said rebels had infiltrated government-held parts of nearby Mutur, had overrun a police post and were firing at troops from buildings in the town.
The military said the Tigers had tried to capture a navy jetty checkpoint but had been repulsed.
The air force resumed bombing raids on Tiger positions for an eighth day, while the rebels and military exchanged artillery and mortar fire.
