25 killed in clashes in Sri Lanka

Colombo: Sri Lanka's military says clashes across the island nation's north and a battle in the east have killed 24 ethnic Tamil rebels and a government police commando.

The clashes have been reported from northern Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya and Welioya fronts Wednesday, the military says in a statement.

Also a police commando has been killed in a fire exchange with rebels in the eastern Ampara district, the military says.

Telephone calls to rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan's office seeking comment have gone unanswered.