More die in Sri Lankan riots
Riots between groups of Tamils and Muslims in north-eastern Sri Lanka have left five people dead, while hundreds have fled their homes.

Three Muslims and two Tamils are reported to have been killed in shooting and grenade attacks during the last two days in the town of Muttur.

The rioting erupted after a Muslim woman, whose son was reportedly kidnapped last week along with another Muslim youth, committed suicide on Wednesday.

The Tamil Tigers have denied kidnapping the two missing youths.

Police say heavily armed troops have been patrolling the town and the surrounding areas after an overnight curfew and have been firing into the air to separate rioters who were armed with automatic rifles, knives and sticks.

Security forces blamed

Bomb explosions and gunfire added to flood of people aiming flee the violence, military officials said.

Sri Lankan Muslim Congress leader Rauf Hakeem, who was staying in the area, has told the BBC he blamed the security forces for failing to control the violence.

He also accused the Tamil Tiger leadership of failing to prevent attacks from the armed Tamil youth who live in rebel-held territory

Mr Hakeem said: "More than 100 houses of Muslims have been destroyed. Some shops owned by Tamils were also torched."

Defence Minister Tilak Marapone visited the area on Friday in an attempt boost troop reinforcements.

A spokesman for the Scandinavians monitoring the ceasefire told the BBC he was trying to arrange a peace meeting between the Tamil Tigers and Muslim leaders this weekend.

He expressed concern about the possible impact of the violence on the next round of peace talks between the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan Government, due to take place on 29 April.