Monday, May 8 2006 14:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: At least 11 guerrillas were today (May 8, 2006) killed and four others injured in internecine clashes among rival Tamil rebel factions in Sri Lanka's restive northeastern district of Trincomalee, defence sources said.

The clash took place as Japanese envoy Yasushi Akashi was set to meet President Mahinda Rajapakse as part of efforts to try and revive the island's faltering peace process.

Defence sources said a breakaway faction of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched a pre-dawn attack against a base of the main guerrilla group near Sampur today, killing 11.

There was no immediate word from the main LTTE or the faction led by V. Muralitharan, better known as Colonel Karuna, but officials said the attack appeared to be aretaliatory strike after an LTTE attack on a base of Karuna last month.

The defence ministry had no details of the clashes as the fighting was in an area held by the Tigers where the military had no direct access.

Meanwhile, officials here said Akashi is set to travel to the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi tomorrow to meet with the LTTE's political wing leader S P Thamilselvan before heading back home via New Delhi where he is expected to brief Indian officials.