30 rebels, 1 soldier die in north-east attack


dpa German Press Agency
Published: Tuesday January 16, 2007

Colombo- Government troops backed by aircraft destroyed a
Tamil rebel stronghold in north-eastern Sri Lanka Tuesday, killing at
least 30 rebels and losing one soldier in the process, a military
spokesman said.
At least three mortar positions of the rebels were destroyed in
the attack at Verugal, 280 kilometres north-east of Colombo, the
spokesman said.

A soldier was killed and 22 more were injured, mainly from rebel
artillery and mortar fire.

The spokesman said the Air Force had initially observed a large
gathering of separatist Tamil rebels who appeared to be preparing an
attack on army positions in the area, prompting the offensive.

The pro-rebel Tamilnet website said, however, that only seven
rebels were injured in the clash. On the government's side, it said,
two soldiers were killed and 22 wounded.

Earlier in the day, two policemen were killed in a claymore mine
blast near the gate of a key government office in northern Sri Lanka.

Police blamed Tamil rebels for the attack that took place near the
office of the Government Agent for Vavuniya, 240 kilometres north of
Colombo.

Clashes between ethnic minority Tamil rebels of the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and government troops have been on the
increase during the past year, claiming more than 3,200 lives of
civilians, soldiers and rebels.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency