Tamil Tiger rebels say they came under government artillery attack Sunday as they prepared to open sluice gates at a contested reservoir in eastern Sri Lanka.
Earlier today, Tiger political leaders told Norwegian peace broker Jon Hanssen-Bauer that any government resumption of artillery attacks or air strikes would shatter a four-year-old ceasefire.
Hanssen-Bauer held talks in the rebel stronghold of Kilinochch and came away with a rebel promise to open sluice gates holding back water to thousands of farmers on government land. In return, the Tigers wanted the government to provide water to people in rebel territory.
Rebels and government forces have been involved in deadly clashes since rebels cut off the water flow last month. The fighting threatened to send Sri Lanka back into civil war.
The rebels are fighting for a separate homeland for ethnic-minority Tamils, accusing the Sinhalese-dominated government of oppression.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.