At least 39 combatants from the government troops and the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels have been killed in
fighting throughout Sunday, defense officials said?on Monday
in Colombo.
Some 22 rebels and two soldiers were killed in several clashes
in the northern Vavuniya district while five LTTE rebels were
killed in Welioya district.
Four LTTE members were killed in Mannar and Jaffna districts
while another LTTE cadre was killed in eastern district of
Batticaloa. A soldier was killed in the northern Jaffna peninsula
clashes.
Armed conflicts erupt often between the government troops and
the rebels in the northeastern regions as the government on January
16 announced its withdrawal from the Norwegian backed
cease-fire.
The six-year-old cease-fire was part of the internationally
backed peace process during which nine rounds of talks were held
between September 2002 and October 2006.
(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2008)
