Civilians Cleared From Hijacked Sri Lanka Ferry

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka —  Tamil rebels who hijacked a Sri Lankan ferry with 129 people aboard apparently have taken all the passengers off the vessel, a Tamil party leader said today.

Douglas Devananda of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party said he has been informed that the rebels “used the boat as cover then took off all the passengers.” It was unclear whether the civilians were then released.

The state-run ferry, which shuttled between northwest islands and the eastern port of Trincomalee, was hijacked Monday.

Gunboats sent to inspect the vessel were fired upon, and 21 navy personnel were missing and presumed dead, a military spokesman said.

The Tamil rebels seek a separate homeland in northeastern Sri Lanka.