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Troops called in to stop rioting in Sri Lankan town

Sri Lankan troops have been called in to separate rioting Muslim and Tamil mobs in the town of Muttur after clashes killed three people and injured six.

The army fired shots in the air and allegedly exploded smoke bombs to stop the clashes in the Muslim-dominated town, about 230 kilometres east of the capital, Colombo.

The riots began earlier in the week when a Muslim woman committed suicide in protest of the recent abduction of her son by suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels.

The Tamil Tiger rebels have denied the abductions.

The town has been placed under curfew, but restrictions were eased today for the Christian Good Friday holiday and Muslim prayer time.

18/04/2003 21:38:37 | ABC Radio Australia News

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