Military forces and Tamil Tiger rebels fought a series of battles across northern Sri Lanka that killed 17 rebels, the military said Tuesday. Meanwhile, a police officer was killed in a rebel attack in the east. The fighting took place Monday, mainly along the front lines surrounding the rebels' de facto state in the north. In the worst battles, five rebels were killed in a morning fight with troops in the Vavuniya district, while five others were killed in a clash hours later, the military said. Seven other rebels were killed in other battles, it said. Tamil Tiger gunmen also shot two police officers – killing one – in the eastern district of Batticaloa, which had been controlled by the rebels until the government ousted them last year, the military said. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan did not answer a phone call seeking comment. It was not possible to independently verify the military's claims because reporters are not allowed in the war zone. The two sides are known to exaggerate casualties inflicted upon the other and play down their own losses. The Tamil Tigers have fought since 1983 to create an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils who have been marginalized by successive governments controlled by majority Sinhalese. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.
