Fighting between government troops and separatist Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka's embattled northern region has killed 16 rebels and a soldier, the military said Sunday. The latest infantry clashes erupted Saturday along the front lines in the Vavuniya, Mannar and Welioya regions bordering the rebels' de facto northern state, said military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara. Fighting in Vavuniya killed 11 rebels and wounded two soldiers, while five rebels were killed and four soldiers were wounded in nearby Mannar district, he said. Separately, a soldier was killed by a sniper's bullet in Mannar, he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment.
