SL soldiers killed 22 Tamil Tiger rebels in clashes in the north of the island, the military said yesterday, as it pressed on with an offensive in the restive region.
The clashes came one day after six rebels and three soldiers were killed in fighting.The violence started when two groups of Tamil Tigers attacked troops in Vavuniya district, south of the rebels' ministate in the north.Soldiers repelled the attackers in a gunbattle, killing nine rebels, the military said.
Hours later, another group of rebels trying to cross the front lines were confronted by soldiers, and seven of them were killed."There were two confrontations with the rebels in Vavuniya, army killed nine and in another incident the troops fired at a group of terrorists and killed seven. No casualties to the military," said army spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.