Colombo (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Around 3,300 civilians yesterday fled clashes in north-east Sri Lanka that killed 110 people. The death toll was supplied by sources of the Tamil Tigers and government army. Forty-one victims of the latest hostilities are civilians.

The rebels and army clashed all day yesterday, exchanging artillery and mortar fire along the borders of Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts. The Red Cross said more than 3,300 people were displaced and has called on the army and the Tigers to respect international humanitarian conventions.

The Tigers said 41 civilians were killed in Vakarai, which is held by them, during two days of shelling by army troops. The military denies attacking civilians and in turn accuses the rebels of using human shields. The defence ministry said the guerrillas initiated the offensive and that the military had counter-attacked and inflicted heavy losses on the rebels. But as always happens in Sri Lanka, where open civil war now rages, the warring parties both deny allegations in a strategy aimed at discrediting the other. Colombo said 12 soldiers were killed yesterday but the Tigers said 30 soldiers were killed on 9 December alone. The military said 40 rebels had been killed, a toll put by the LTTE at three.