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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Heavy fighting in Sri Lanka north | Heavy fighting in Sri Lanka north |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Dozens of Sri Lankan soldiers and Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed or wounded in fierce fighting in the north of the island, the two sides say. | Dozens of Sri Lankan soldiers and Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed or wounded in fierce fighting in the north of the island, the two sides say. |
| The clashes occurred near the front lines at Muhamalai in Jaffna peninsula. | The clashes occurred near the front lines at Muhamalai in Jaffna peninsula. |
| There were wildly conflicting accounts of the death tolls, which could not be independently confirmed. | There were wildly conflicting accounts of the death tolls, which could not be independently confirmed. |
| Observers say the two sides are gearing up for major confrontation in the north. The government has unveiled plans for record defence spending. | |
| Fighting between troops and the rebels, who want autonomy in the north and east, has worsened in recent months. | Fighting between troops and the rebels, who want autonomy in the north and east, has worsened in recent months. |
| Wounded | Wounded |
| The battle at Muhamalai broke out on Wednesday morning, the army said. | The battle at Muhamalai broke out on Wednesday morning, the army said. |
| We have no alternative but to completely eradicate terrorism President Rajapaksa | |
| A statement said troops had "smashed over 20 rebel bunkers". | A statement said troops had "smashed over 20 rebel bunkers". |
| "Latest reports emanated from the LTTE [Tamil Tigers] confirmed 52 Tiger terrorists were killed," the army said. | "Latest reports emanated from the LTTE [Tamil Tigers] confirmed 52 Tiger terrorists were killed," the army said. |
| It said 11 soldiers had died in the fighting, while 41 soldiers had been wounded and taken to hospital. | It said 11 soldiers had died in the fighting, while 41 soldiers had been wounded and taken to hospital. |
| Reports suggest the number of army wounded could be much higher. | Reports suggest the number of army wounded could be much higher. |
| The rebels had a very different account. They said they had lost just one fighter in the clash, and that 20 soldiers had been killed. | The rebels had a very different account. They said they had lost just one fighter in the clash, and that 20 soldiers had been killed. |
| "The clash lasted about two hours, and they fell back to their original positions with heavy casualties," Reuters news agency quoted rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan as saying. | "The clash lasted about two hours, and they fell back to their original positions with heavy casualties," Reuters news agency quoted rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan as saying. |
| He said the army attack on rebel bunkers had been successfully repulsed. | He said the army attack on rebel bunkers had been successfully repulsed. |
| Each side frequently inflates losses sustained by the other side while downplaying its own, correspondents say. | Each side frequently inflates losses sustained by the other side while downplaying its own, correspondents say. |
| War fears | |
| On Wednesday President Mahinda Rajapaksa asked parliament to back record levels of defence spending in the budget for the coming year. | |
| The funeral for top rebel SP Thamilselvan, killed last week | |
| Mr Rajapaksa, who is also defence and finance minister, outlined plans to spend $1.5bn on the military, a 20% increase. | |
| "We have no alternative but to completely eradicate terrorism," he told parliament in a long speech broadcast on national television. | |
| Despite losing territory in the east earlier this year, the rebels still control a vast swathe of land in the north. | Despite losing territory in the east earlier this year, the rebels still control a vast swathe of land in the north. |
| They suffered a further setback last Friday when their political leader, SP Thamilselvan, was killed in an air force bombing raid. | |
| He was the most senior rebel to be killed for years. | |
| The rebels are fighting for autonomy for minority Tamils in the north and east, claiming discrimination by the majority Sinhalese population. | |
| About 70,000 people have died in more than 20 years of war. |