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| Sri Lanka |
| '34 dead in new Sri Lanka clashes' |
| 2008-10-06 |
| Government forces neared the Tamil Tiger rebels' main town in new fighting that left 29 guerrillas and five soldiers dead, the military said on Sunday. The heaviest fighting was very near the rebels' administrative capital of Kilinochchi, where 20 guerrillas and four soldiers died on Saturday, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. The army says its soldiers are now only just over two kilometres from the outer limits of the town. Kilinochchi was the meeting place between the rebels and various visiting diplomats during a Norwegian-brokered peace process that was officially called off early this year. Nanayakkara said four other rebels and a soldier were killed in clashes in the Vavuniya and Welioya regions. Soldiers overran five rebel bunkers in the Mullaitivu district on Saturday and killed five rebels, the military said. The clashes left nine bunkers in government hands, it said in a statement. Rebel officials could not be contacted for comment because most communication lines to guerrilla-dominated areas have been severed. Most independent observers and reporters are barred from the war zone, making it difficult to verify the military's claims. |
| Posted by:Fred |