Battles between government forces and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels across Sri Lanka's war-ravaged northern region killed 31 rebels and 11 soldiers, the military said Monday. Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara was quoted as saying by the Associated Press that army troops fought insurgents Sunday on three fronts separating the government-held territory and the rebels' de facto state in the north. He said soldiers pushed into rebel-held territory in the Welioya area and captured five positions close to a major guerrilla base deep in the jungles after a battle that killed 20 rebels and eight soldiers. The same battle wounded 41 rebels and 30 soldiers, he said, adding that one soldier was missing. Separate clashes in the Vavuniya district killed 10 rebels and wounded three soldiers, while in the Jaffna peninsula another confrontation killed three soldiers and one rebel, Nanayakkara said. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment.
