Soldiers launched a series of attacks on rebels in northern Uganda, killing at least 15 insurgents and capturing arms and ammunition, an army spokesman said Saturday. The fighters of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army were killed in five separate clashes Friday when the army stepped up operations against insurgents around Gulu, 380 kilometers (235 miles) north of Kampala, said army spokesman Lt. Tabaro Kiconco. The government has been in peace talks since December with the rebels, who took up arms 18 years ago to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni. The group holds no territory and is best known for kidnapping thousands of children and forcing them to become soldiers or sex slaves. Betty Bigombe, chief peace mediator, said military attacks are intended to push rebels to negotiate and end the conflict.
