The Sri Lankan defense ministry says government forces killed at least
41 Tamil Tiger rebels and wounded more than 30 in Saturday's fighting
in the northern part of the country.
The ministry said Sunday 20 rebels died in clashes in Vavuniya
district, while another 14 were killed in neighboring Welioya. Seven
Tamil Tigers were killed in the coastal district of Mannar.
The ministry said two soldiers were killed and at least two others wounded in the fighting.
There was no immediate comment from the Tamil Tiger rebels, and the
government figures could not be verified independently because of
restrictions on journalists in the area.
Tamil rebels are fighting for an independent homeland in Sri Lanka's
north and east. More than 70-thousand people died in the violence that
began in 1983.