Deteriorating security situation in Sri Lanka's eastern port district of Trincomalee took a new turn Thursday with the Navy gunfire accounting for the death of a Tamil Tiger rebel.

A Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) member was killed around 7:45 p.m. (1345 GMT) at Nilaveli, the Navy said.

The slain LTTE member and another person fired at a Navy road check point, prompting a return from the Navy.

It killed the Tiger rebel who was in possession of a walkie talkie and grenades, the other person was injured and handed over to the Uppuveli police, the Navy added.

The deteriorating security situation endangered the Norwegian- backed truce, prompting Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga to appeal all concerned to exercise restraint and contribute toward normalizing the situation.

President Kumaratunga said in a press release that she firmly believes the conflicts that have caused political violence should be resolved through dialogue and negotiations and not through hostility.

The president blamed the forces opposed to her joint aid deal with the Tamil Tigers for the situation.

The police chief in Trincomalee, Rohan Abeywardena, said the security forces in the area are inadequate in view of the volatile situation with the Tigers stepping up attacks against the forces.

The government spokesman and minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said the government is concerned about the situation and despite violence the government is committed to maintaining the Norwegian- backed cease-fire.

Source: Xinhua