Tigers free policeman seized in eastern Sri Lanka

Tamil Tiger rebels Tuesday freed a policeman they had seized in the island's embattled eastern province but another officer detained by the rebels was found dead, local military officials said.

Tamil Tiger rebels Tuesday freed a policeman they had seized in the island's embattled eastern province but another officer detained by the rebels was found dead, local military officials said. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) freed the constable through the Norwegian-led ceasefire monitors in the district of Trincomalee, the officials said.

They said another policeman allegedly taken away by the guerrillas two weeks ago was found dead Monday in a jungle area.

"The body was decomposed and we identified him from his clothing," an officer said.

There has been rancour in the region over the abductions and the authorities have lodged a protest with the truce monitors.

Tension has been rising in eastern Sri Lanka since a split in the LTTE in March last year.

The government has accused the LTTE of killing hundreds of rivals and intelligence operatives despite the truce.

The guerrillas for their part have accused the government of supporting their rivals.

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