Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Muslims Flee Expected Rebel Attack in Eastern Sri Lanka
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&ctl=14178A0:A6F02AD83191E160A35662F9DC968AEB9574F7DCC14957C0 More than 1,000
people are stranded on coast of Mutur since Tamil rebels distributed
leaflets warning people to leave town immediately Thousands of Muslims
are fleeing their homes in eastern Sri Lanka for the second time





Displaced Sri Lankan ethnic Muslim family takes refuge at a school in
Kinniya in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Sunday, September 24, 2006in two
months after a purported rebel group warned it is planning an assault.

Witnesses in Trincomalee province say more than 1,000 people are
stranded Sunday on the coast of Mutur as they await a ferry to take
them to a nearby island.

People living in the mostly Muslim town say Tamil rebels distributed
leaflets warning that the rebels plan to attack the now
government-held territory. Residents say the notices warned people to
leave the town immediately.

Fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels displaced
thousands of people from Mutur in August.

Tamil rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for
ethnic-minority Tamils since 1983. They accuse the Sinhalese-dominated
government of oppression. Some information for this report was
provided by AP and Reuters.


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