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Sri Lanka clash kills '15 rebels' | Sri Lanka clash kills '15 rebels' |
(about 8 hours later) | |
The Sri Lanka government says 15 Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed in a series of clashes in the north and east of the country in the past 48 hours. | The Sri Lanka government says 15 Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed in a series of clashes in the north and east of the country in the past 48 hours. |
A defence ministry spokesman said more rebels are believed to have lost their lives in the clashes. | A defence ministry spokesman said more rebels are believed to have lost their lives in the clashes. |
The rebels confirmed that six of their members died in the latest clashes on Thursday. It was not possible to verify independently either side's claims. | |
Despite a truce on paper, Sri Lanka has been sliding back towards civil war. | |
More than 4,000 people have been killed in the violence in the past 15 months. | More than 4,000 people have been killed in the violence in the past 15 months. |
According to the defence ministry, a foot patrol of navy troops was fired on by rebels on Kayts island, off the government-held Jaffna peninsula. | According to the defence ministry, a foot patrol of navy troops was fired on by rebels on Kayts island, off the government-held Jaffna peninsula. |
They shot back and later found two fighters dead in the early hours of the morning. | They shot back and later found two fighters dead in the early hours of the morning. |
Elsewhere in the north-west, there have been confrontations around the front lines that divide government and Tiger-controlled areas. | Elsewhere in the north-west, there have been confrontations around the front lines that divide government and Tiger-controlled areas. |
'Mini state' | 'Mini state' |
Military personnel have been operating there in small groups for weeks, tracking down rebel positions. | Military personnel have been operating there in small groups for weeks, tracking down rebel positions. |
The Tigers have confirmed that six of their members were killed in the latest clashes on Thursday. | The Tigers have confirmed that six of their members were killed in the latest clashes on Thursday. |
Two more rebels lost their lives there on Wednesday, according to the government and mortar fire has been continuing. | Two more rebels lost their lives there on Wednesday, according to the government and mortar fire has been continuing. |
Much of the fighting in Sri Lanka has now shifted to the north of the island where the Tigers operate what amounts to a mini state. | Much of the fighting in Sri Lanka has now shifted to the north of the island where the Tigers operate what amounts to a mini state. |
Senior government officials have vowed to wipe the rebels out militarily within two to three years. | Senior government officials have vowed to wipe the rebels out militarily within two to three years. |
They have already been driven from many areas they controlled in the east of the country. | They have already been driven from many areas they controlled in the east of the country. |
But the Tigers still remain in the jungles of Thoppigala where the defence ministry says five rebels were killed on Thursday. | But the Tigers still remain in the jungles of Thoppigala where the defence ministry says five rebels were killed on Thursday. |