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Fighting kills 40 in Sri Lanka |
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July 3, 2000
COLOMBO (AP) - Fresh fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels killed 30 guerrillas and nine soldiers in the island nation's north and east, a government spokesman said Sunday.
Using artillery, the troops destroyed several front-line rebel bunkers in Welioya, 220 kilometers (135 miles) northeast of the Sri Lankan capital, on Friday, said Lakshman Perera, a deputy director in the information ministry.
On Sunday, a clandestine rebel radio said 16 guerrillas and 15 soldiers were killed in the fighting. The radio was monitored in Vavuniya, 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital.
The rebel casualties included 10 women fighters, the radio said. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has a trained women's division which frequently participates in fighting.
On Saturday, one soldier was killed and eight others were wounded in fighting in the northern Jaffna Peninsula, said Perera.
The fighting in the north is taking place 5-15 kilometers (3-9 miles) from Jaffna town.
In May, the rebels launched a big offensive to recapture their former capital Jaffna and scored some stunning military successes, particularly the capture of the strategic Elephant Pass army camp, the gateway to Jaffna.
The induction of new warplanes, multi-barrel rocket launchers and other weaponry has turned the tide in the military's favor.
The rebels are fighting for a separate homeland for the country's minority Tamils who comprise 3.2 million of Sri Lanka's 18.6 million people.
The Tamils accuse the majority Sinhalese of widespread discrimination in education and jobs. The Sinhalese control the government and the military.
More than 62,000 people have been killed in the fighting since 1983.
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