COLOMBO, Feb 4 (Reuters) - A caller claiming to be from a rebel group Sri Lanka's military says is a wing of the Tamil Tigers on Monday warned of bomb attacks on Independence Day celebrations due to take place in the capital Colombo within hours.

"Please, be careful. There are going to be bombs in Colombo in some places," the caller told Reuters, saying he represented 'Ellalan Forces' -- a name the military identified as Tiger fighters operating in the capital.

The caller was unknown to Reuters, and hung up when asked if he was linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The Tigers were not immediately reachable for comment.

"Ellalan forces ... are those operating in Colombo," said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara. "It's the Tigers." (Reporting by Simon Gardner; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

AlertNet news is provided by