Report: Sri Lanka violence leaves 145 dead

 

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The Sri Lankan military says heavy fighting near a key Tamil Tiger stronghold in the northern part of the island nation left 120 rebels and 25 soldiers dead.

The engagements Tuesday were reported along a battle line in the region of the so-called rebel capital of Kilinochchi.

The military, which has been claiming numerous victories in its relentless campaign against the rebels in recent months, said in the latest incident, its multipronged attacks against rebel positions gave it control over a 3.1-mile stretch of a trench west of Paranthan and Kilinochchi, LankaPage reported.

The Tiger Web site, TamilNet, however, reported 40 soldiers were killed at one battle site alone and that the troops were forced to pull back. The report did not mention any rebel casualties.

The claims of either side could not be verified independently as reporters are not allowed into the conflict areas.

Sri Lankan Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara was quoted by LankaPage as saying another 250 rebels and 160 soldiers were injured. He said 10 more soldiers also were missing in the clashes.

The Sri Lankan Defense Ministry said the fighting started as the military began artillery and heavy mortar attacks against identified Tiger locations, the newspaper reported.

Since the 1980s, the Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for the Tamil-speaking minority in Sri Lanka, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of people.