53 rebels, 5 soldiers dead in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Fighting between Sri Lankan government forces and Tamil Tigers has left 53 rebels and five soldiers dead, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

Defense officials said the Sri Lankan navy sank two rebel boats off the northeast coast Monday night, killing eight rebels on board, the Press Trust of India reported.

Forty-five rebels and five soldiers died, meanwhile, in wide-spread ground fighting Monday, PTI reported. Another 50 rebels and several government soldiers reportedly were wounded.