The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Colombo

Battles between government troops and Tamil Tiger separatists in Sri Lanka's north left 11 rebels and seven soldiers dead, the military said Saturday.

The fighting broke out in the Mannar, Welioya and Vavuniya regions bordering the rebels' de-facto state in the north on Friday, a defense ministry statement said. In the Welioya area, separate clashes killed seven rebels and four soldiers, while three confrontations in Vavuniya and Mannar killed four rebels and three soldiers, the ministry said. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment.

It was not possible to independently verify the military's claims because journalists are banned from the northern jungles where much of the fighting takes place