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36 killed as government forces attack rebels in Sri Lanka
Government forces attacked Tamil Tiger rebels along Sri Lanka's northern front lines, triggering a series of gunbattles that killed 35 rebels and one soldier, the military said on Saturday.
- AP
- Published: 10:32 July 5, 2008
Colombo: Government forces attacked Tamil Tiger rebels along Sri Lanka's northern front lines, triggering a series of gunbattles that killed 35 rebels and one soldier, the military said on Saturday.
The latest fighting broke out in the Jaffna, Vavuniya, Welioya and Mannar regions bordering the rebels' de facto state in the north on Friday, said a defence ministry official.
Fighting has escalated in recent months, with the military stepping up ground assaults and airstrikes on rebel-held territory. The government has pledged to crush the insurgents by the end of the year.
Troops captured a rebel bunker along the front lines in Vavuniya on Friday after a clash that killed two rebels and one soldier, the official said. Other battles in Vavuniya killed 18 rebels and wounded three soldiers.
Fighting in Mannar, Jaffna and Welioya left 15 rebels dead and one soldier wounded, he said.
Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment.
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