This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6717717.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'Casualties' in Sri Lanka clashes 'Casualties' in Sri Lanka clashes
(about 7 hours later)
There has been heavy fighting between the Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tiger rebels in the north, a day after two Red Cross staff were killed. Clashes between troops and Tamil rebels have continued in northern Sri Lanka after fighting at the weekend which the two sides said claimed dozens of lives.
The rebels say they have killed at least 30 soldiers, and soldiers claim to have killed more than 50 rebels. The rebels say they killed at least 30 soldiers in the north, while the army said it had killed more than 50 rebels.
The claims by both sides could not be independently verified. Neither claim could be independently verified. Meanwhile, the Red Cross has urged the authorities to investigate the killing of two of its staff.
Despite a truce on paper, Sri Lanka has been sliding back towards civil war and more than 4,000 people have been killed in the violence in the past 15 months. Despite a truce on paper, Sri Lanka has been sliding back towards civil war.
A rebel spokesman said they taken government-held positions between Vavuniya and Mannar, killing at least 30 soldiers and capturing military vehicles and long-range weapons. More than 4,000 people have been killed in violence in the past 15 months.
Envoy due
A rebel spokesman said they taken government-held positions between Vavuniya and Mannar over the weekend, killing at least 30 soldiers and capturing military vehicles and long-range weapons.
The Sri Lankan government said it had repulsed a drive by the rebels and killed more than 50 of them.The Sri Lankan government said it had repulsed a drive by the rebels and killed more than 50 of them.
The fighting came ahead of the arrival in the region on Tuesday of Japan's special peace envoy, Yasushi Akashi.The fighting came ahead of the arrival in the region on Tuesday of Japan's special peace envoy, Yasushi Akashi.
Earlier, two Red Cross volunteers were abducted and killed by gunmen claiming to be police. Their bodies were found in the central town of Ratnapura. Earlier, two ethnic Tamil Red Cross volunteers were abducted and killed by gunmen claiming to be police. Their bodies were found in the central town of Ratnapura.