World Highlights

¤ Tamil Tiger rebels shelled a strategic harbour in eastern Sri Lanka and tried to sink a transporter ship with 850 troops aboard, the military said, killing four sailors as a low intensity war spiralled.

The military said Tiger artillery, mortar launchers and gunboats attacked a ship entering Trincomalee port, north of where troops are battling to secure a rebel-held sluice gate in a dispute that has prompted the worst and longest violence since a 2002 truce.

¤ A Congolese opposition party and former rebel group denounced what it called widespread fraud in the country's historic elections in a protest that heralded a bitter political dispute over the polls.

The RCD party of presidential contender Azarias Ruberwa said unless its allegations of "systematic fraud" were cleared up it would contest the election results, due by August 20.

¤ Three British soldiers were killed in an ambush in southern Afghanistan the day after Nato forces took over the violence-plagued region from US troops.

A British convoy was attacked by rebels in Helmand province - one of the most dangerous in the country - the Defence Ministry said in London.

¤ Historic Russian art worth nearly $5 million has vanished from the Hermitage, one of the world's greatest museums, its director said, with suspicion falling on members of staff.

Auditors noticed the loss of pieces of silver and enamel, made by Russian craftsmen in the Middle Ages and 19th century, in stock-taking last month. News agencies said the lost artworks included icons, religious works and items with precious stones.