The Associated Press reports the rebels blame government shelling for the civilian casualties, which happened as the two sides fought near a rebel stronghold.

Fighting between government forces and Tamil rebels has recently intensified.

A naval battle off Sri Lanka's eastern coast Thursday killed at least 16 rebels, one day after government troops captured a key rebel base in the east, district of Batticaloa.

Monday, the rebels staged their first-ever air strike, using a small plane to bomb an air force base near the capital, Colombo.

The government and rebels signed a ceasefire in 2002, but renewed fighting in the past 18 months has killed about 4,000 people. - VOA News