Aid ship docks at Jaffna as five killed in Sri Lanka clashes

[oberliner]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060825/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunrest_060825071705

COLOMBO (AFP) - A food relief ship has arrived in northern Sri Lanka to lift a two-week siege of the Jaffna peninsula as fresh clashes left five rebels dead, the defence ministry said.

Workers began the slow task of unloading 1,500 tonnes of food for the 350,000 civilians trapped by fierce fighting between government forces and Tamil Tigers.

All roads remained blocked to the peninsula and negotiations were continuing to allow a Red Cross ferry to pick up some 150 foreigners from the area where the military said some 650 people died in 11 days of fighting.