Scores of people have been killed in factional fighting in eastern Sri Lanka since a major split within the Tigers a year ago. Last month, a rebel political leader along with three other cadres and a pro-rebel former lawmaker were ambushed and killed.

On Saturday, Mylvahanam Pulenthiran, whose brother was a former rebel fighter, was shot and killed near Batticaloa, 220 kilometers (135 miles) east of Colombo, military spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake said.

Earlier in the day, Kandiah Ganeshalingam, a member of a group that opposes the Tigers, was seriously wounded after being shot in Batticaloa town, he said.

The latest violence came as Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar was meeting the Tigers' political leader S.P Thamilselvan in the rebel-held northern town of Kilinochchi to discuss controlling the spiraling violence in the east.

``Both the situation in the east and yesterday's incidents in Jaffna were discussed,'' Norwegian embassy spokesman Tom Knappskog said, without elaborating.

Violent protests erupted in northern town of Jaffna Friday when a schoolgirl was killed after being knocked down by a military vehicle. A protester was later killed by the military, who open fired on demonstrators as they attacked military vehicles and check points.

Norway has played a crucial role in efforts to end Sri Lanka's two-decade civil war which left around 65,000 people dead. Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam rebels began their violent campaign for a separate state in 1983, claiming discrimination by the majority Sinhalese.

Despite infractions, both sides are still observing a three-year, Norway-brokered cease-fire. Published: Sat Mar 5 15:32:56 EST 2005

“The LTTE, in what was seen as another orchestrated move to strain relations between the Security Forces and the public in Jaffna, once again went on inciting a section of mobs in the Jaffna town and its suburbs today after an Army tractor caused the death of a thirteen year old girl in a traffic accident near the Seylan Bank in Jaffna town,” the Army said.

The Army also pointed out, such unabated LTTE provocative acts, aimed at disrupting normalcy and jeopardizing all efforts, orientated to bring peace to the country, continue to pose a major setback to good relations now being maintained between the public and Security Forces in Jaffna peninsula.

“Those mobs, incited by the LTTE after the road accident resorted to a series of provocative and violent acts that included arson attacks on two bunkers and the SLFP political office, damage of an Air Force vehicle, blockade of roads by burning tyres, pelting stones at Security Forces, etc.

The girl on her way to her school on her newly-bought push bicycle was run over by that Army tractor returning to a camp after some work in the morning. The girl however succumbed to injuries in the Jaffna hospital while a specially dispatched Air Force helicopter awaited her to be airlifted to Colombo National Hospital for emergency medical treatment.

As mobs, incited by the LTTE began to turn violent and unruly, the Police were compelled to use minimum force to quell escalation of violence by firing shots and tear gas into the air and batton-charge in order to maintain law and order in the township.

In another location close to the supermarket, the Police had to open fire on another unruly mob, causing injuries to one of them below his knees. He was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Hospital sources meanwhile confirmed that dead body of an elderly man from Thinnaveli area was also brought to the Jaffna hospital around the same time. Reason for his death is yet to be ascertained.

However, as mobs began to disperse by about 5. 30 p.m. the Police with the assistance of the armed forces intensified security in trouble-torn areas after taking all necessary steps to maintain law and order. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission has also been alerted,” Army added. Published: Fri Mar 4 13:49:51 EST 2005