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Sri Lankan soldiers die in clash | Sri Lankan soldiers die in clash |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Six Sri Lankan soldiers have been killed and two are missing after Tamil Tiger rebels attacked an army outpost in the south-east, the military says. | |
There were no reports of rebel casualties in the incident. | |
Most of the recent fighting has been in the north where the rebels still control a swathe of territory. | |
In the north, the military said at least 20 rebels had been killed in a series of clashes, the fiercest of which were near Vavuniya. | |
The rebels have not commented on the government's accounts of the fighting and there was no independent confirmation of the casualty figures. | |
Fighting has been intensifying between the Tigers, who want an independent state for the Tamil minority, and the government. | |
Rare attack | |
Our correspondent says attacks on the south-east coast such as Tuesday's battle near the Yala wildlife sanctuary are unusual. | |
Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said an army outpost manned by nine soldiers had been overrun by Tamil Tiger rebels. | |
Brig Nanayakkara said six were killed and one was wounded. Two more are missing. | |
Hours later, an army tractor sent to collect the casualties hit a landmine and another soldier was killed and three more were wounded. | Hours later, an army tractor sent to collect the casualties hit a landmine and another soldier was killed and three more were wounded. |
Meanwhile, there was heavy fighting in the north too. | |
The military said it had killed 24 rebels in battles around the frontlines near Vavuniya that divide rebel- and government-held areas. One soldier was also killed. | |
Troops had recovered the bodies of seven rebels after battles in the district, a military spokesman said. | |
In a separate incident, two policemen manning a checkpoint were shot dead. | In a separate incident, two policemen manning a checkpoint were shot dead. |