2ND LEAD (UPDATE)

Clashes erupt off Point Pedro coast

[TamilNet, Friday, 01 September 2006, 15:33 GMT]
Heavy fighting erupted between the Sea Tigers and the Sri Lanka Navy off the coast of Point Pedro, on the northern coast of Jaffna, Friday evening, sources in the peninsula said. Clashes in the seas off Manalkadu, in Vadamaradchi East, spread fled their houses.

Sri Lanka Army positions along the coast came under fire and the SLA soldiers temporarily vacated their posts from the coastal defence line as civilians, around 900 families, from Supparmadam, Koddady, Munai, Katkovalam, Moorkam and Punithanagar villages sought refuge at St. Anthony's church.

The clashes off the coast, resumed far off in the seas, at 11:10 p.m., civilian sources said.