Protesters were armed with clubs

SLMM spokesman Jon Oskar Solnes speaking to BBC Sandeshaya from Colombo on Thursday said that the monitors in Mannar have been advised to stay indoors until the Sri Lankan Army as well the Tamil Tigers assure secure conditions to monitor the situation.

Six state security personnel and16 civilians who sustained injuries in the clash with the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and police in Mannar have been hospitalised.

Clashes erupted when the SLA and police were trying to pull down a flag hoisted by the LTTE in commemoration of their dead cadres.

In Veppankulam in Vavunia it is reported that the LTTE stopped state security from removing a flag that has been hoisted.

SLA handed over flag on Wednesday

Demonstrators opposing the move by state security forces burnt tyres and blocked the roads in protest.

Preparations by the LTTE in the North and East for its Martyr's week celebrations have been clouded by several incidents where the Sri Lankan Military has opposed to the hoisting of the Tamil Tiger flag in government held territory.

In a statement on the tension in Mannar the SLA says that "Police were compelled to use tear gas to bring the situation under control" as "a group of about 100 people armed with axes, iron bars, clubs etc. had tried to hoist the LTTE flag" in the Mannar main bus stand.

In a letter marked "Top Priority" the LTTE requested the SLMM on Thursday to "treat this with the urgency of curbing a calamitous situation".

The letter signed by LTTE political chief S P Tamilselvan that says the SLA is "working on an agenda to disrupt the peaceful commemoration of this annual event and provocate civilians", and adds that adequate instructions have been given to LTTE members "to ensure that SLMM is allowed to function unhindered and unharmed by any elements".

On Wednesday an LTTE flag removed in Mannar by the SLA was later returned on a platter. The SLA and Tamil Tigers earlier agreed in a meeting with the SLMM that state security forces will not object to the LTTE flag being hoisted in non-state premises.

SLMM spokesman Solnes told BBC Sandeshaya that the ceasefire monitors have not been successful in easing tensions surrounding flag hoisting.