2ND LEAD (UPDATE)

LTTE shells Trincomalee navy base

[TamilNet, Saturday, 12 August 2006, 00:44 GMT]
LTTE artillery shells are hitting the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) base in the Trincomalee harbour, sources in the eastern port town said. The shelling, which began at 3 a.m. had ceased at 4 a.m., but resumed at 6 a.m. the sources said. Several artillery shells have hit Chinabay SLAF air base in Trincomalee.

Soon after LTTE hit the Trincomalee naval base from Saturday dawn 3:00 a.m. ambulances of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) were seen rushing out of the navy base, residents said.

Last Tuesday, 36 shells fired by LTTE artillery hit the Navy base amid heavy fighting in Muthur town across the Koddiyar bay in front of the harbour.