The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Colombo

Heavy fighting between security forces and Tamil Tiger rebels in northern Sri Lanka has left at least 23 guerrillas dead and five government soldiers wounded, the defence ministry said Friday.

Clashes erupted in the Wanni region as well as the Jaffna peninsula, along the de facto border of the mini-state of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Thursday, the ministry said.

According to ministry figures, government troops have killed at least 2,066 rebels while 123 soldiers have died since the beginning of the year.