COLOMBO (AFP) — Fighting in Sri Lanka left dead at least 11 people, including eight Tamil Tiger rebels, the defence ministry said Thursday.
One soldier died in clashes with rebels on Wednesday in three areas in the north, the ministry said.
The ministry also accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of gunning down two civilians gathering firewood in the tense northeastern district of Trincomalee on Wednesday.
The latest battles raised to 5,993 the number of rebels that the government claims have been slain since January. The ministry admits losing 557 soldiers over the same period.
The LTTE, who have been fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils since 1972, did not comment on the military claims.
After ejecting the rebels from the east last July, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said Tuesday that troops were on the verge of a major victory to dismantle the de facto rebel state in the north.
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