Legal Advisor for HRW, Jim Ross has accused the faction led by Col. Karuna alias Vinayamurthy Muralitharan of serious rights violations and war crimes including using child soldiers.

"HRW strongly urges the UK government to explore the possibility of prosecuting him for war crimes and other international offences before returning him to Sri Lanka," he was quoted by the Reuters news agency.

The Karuna faction has continuously denied the charges.

Attack in Valachchenai

British Home Office (interior ministry) on Friday admitted that the breakaway leader was arrested in a joint operation by the immigration officials and the police.

HRW strongly urges the UK government to explore the possibility of prosecuting him for war crimes and other international offences before returning him to Sri Lanka HRW legal advisor, Jim Ross

Meanwhile, a member of the Karuna faction has been killed in a bomb attack in the east on Sunday.

Reports from Batticaloa say another six including Sinnathamby, Karuna faction's head of the financial section, have sustained injuries in the attack.

The group was travelling from Valachchenai to Polonnaruwa as their vehicle came under grenade attack.

Media Centre for National Security has accused the Tamil Tigers of targeting members of Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP - Karuna faction).

A spokesman for the TMVP has also accused the LTTE.

Six injured were admitted to Polonnaruwa hospital.