Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels have ambushed a police bus with a roadside bomb outside a university in eastern Sri Lanka, killing six officers as they headed out on leave.

The attack in the eastern district of Batticaloa on Wednesday came after the government vowed to wipe out the Tigers militarily.

Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, a military spokesman, said: "A Claymore (fragmentation mine) attack in front of the Eastern University in Batticaloa has blasted a bus carrying police personnel going on leave.

"Six were killed. There may be more injuries."

Several more were also reported wounded in the attack.

It comes after the military captured a key eastern Tiger stronghold this month that analysts say has emboldened the government to try to end the conflict on the battlefield rather than at the peace talks table.

Wednesday's attack also comes after two naval attacks by suspected Tiger rebels this month, and observers fear the government is underestimating the rebels' military capability.

PHOTO CAPTION

Sri Lankan special force soldiers patrol near a haul of weapons recovered from Tamil Tigers in Kathiraveli, about 220 kilometers (138 miles) east of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007. (AP)

News Agencies