The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Colombo

Heavy weekend fighting between government troops and Tamil separatists in Sri Lanka's war-ravaged northern region left 35 rebels and eight soldiers dead, the military said Sunday.

The latest battles erupted Saturday along the front lines in the Mannar and Welioya regions, the military said.

In the worst fighting, soldiers killed 13 Tamil rebels in Janakapura in Welioya, said a defense ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Four soldiers were killed and six soldiers and 26 rebels were wounded, he said.

Sporadic fighting in the northern Mannar district killed 18 rebels and one soldier, the official said, adding that six soldiers and six rebels were wounded in that fighting.

Separate fighting in Welioya left four rebels and three soldiers dead, he said.