Sri Lanka military says rebels sink navy ship in attack in east

By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka's military says Tamil Tiger rebels bombed and sank a navy cargo ship in the eastern port town of Trincomalee.

The attack early Saturday took place just hours before voters in the town are to cast ballots in a crucial provincial election.

Navy spokesman Cmdr. D.K.P. Dassanayake says the rebels attacked the cargo ship with an underwater explosion at about 2:15 a.m. He says the 65-metre vessel was empty.

The military has accused the rebels of trying to disrupt the polls.