A series of battles between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels across Sri Lanka's embattled northern region killed 20 rebels and two soldiers, the military said Monday. The latest battles erupted Sunday in the Vavuniya, Mannar, Welioya and Jaffna areas bordering the rebels' de facto state in the north, said Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara, the military spokesman was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.