Tamil Tigers are accused of attacking a police post in the south

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told BBC Sandeshaya that three police personnel were killed in the attack.

The bodies were taken to Thanamalwila hospital.

This is the latest in the incidents of LTTE accused of launching attacks in the South.

Series of attacks

Attending the funerals of those killed in an attack on Thursday evening, President Rajapaksa vowed to wipe out terrorism 'as soon as possible'.

A also accused 'certain people' among the Sinhala community of supporting the LTTE to launch attacks in the south.

At least ten people have been shot dead in Thanamalwila as police and army commandos hunted for suspected Tamil Tiger rebels who attacked a bus two days before.

27 people were killed in a claymore bomb attack on a bus on Wednesday in Buttala.

Officials say another five people were killed by gunmen fleeing the attack and several soldiers were hurt in a second blast not far from the first explosion.

Bystanders told the BBC Sinhala service that the attackers, clad in black, had shot at them and fired in the air after the attack.