40 killed as Tamil Tigers and troops clash in north

Colombo: Clashes between government forces and Tamil Tigers killed at least 40 combatants across northern Sri Lanka, the military said on Sunday, as air force jets bombed a rebel commanders' camp.

The battles on Saturday in Jaffna, Mannar and Vavuniya districts left 39 insurgents and a soldier dead, a military official said.

on Sunday, air force jets bombed a camp occupied by rebel commanders in Mannar district, the military said in a statement. It did not give details of casualties or damage caused by the raid.

Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan did not respond to calls seeking comment on the military's claims. It was not possible to obtain independent accounts of the battles. Often the two sides exaggerate each other's casualty figures while underplaying their own losses.