Sri Lankan Military Say 36 Rebels Killed in Recent Fighting

Sri Lanka’s military says it has killed at least 36 Tamil Tiger rebels during recent fighting across the island’s troubled north. A military statement says soldiers attacked in the northern district of Vavuniya Saturday killing at least 15 rebels. Three soldiers also died in the operation.

It said other fighting across the region killed at least 21 other rebels and one soldier. There has been no independent confirmation of the government’s account of the clashes.

Fighting has escalated in recent months since the government officially withdrew from a 2002 cease-fire in January. The government says the rebels had been using the agreement to rearm and regroup.

About 70,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in 1983.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

by VOA News

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