Sri Lankan military bombs rebels, captures village
The Associated Press, Colombo | Mon, 11/17/2008 3:17 PM
Sri Lankan forces mounted intense attacks on the Tamil Tigers in the north, capturing a rebel-held village and killing at least seven rebel fighters, the military said Monday.
The new battles highlighted the government's ongoing drive to crush the rebel group just days after troops captured the final rebel stronghold on the island's west coast.
The military offensive has pushed the rebels out of large areas of their once-solid stronghold in the north in recent months.
Early Monday, ground forces advanced further, taking control of the northern village of Kumalamunei in Mullaitivu district, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said.
Fighter jets also bombed an ammunition facility and two rebel camps Sunday, the military said. Also Sunday, troops launched attacks throughout the north and recovered the bodies of seven slain rebels, the military said.
It was not possible to contact rebel officials for comment because most communication lines with the north have been severed. Independent accounts are difficult to obtain from the battlefield because most journalists are barred from the war zone.
Citing Tamil Tiger officials, the rebel-affiliated Web site TamilNet reported that 20 government troops were killed in the fighting Sunday.
The Tamil Tigers have fought since 1983 to create an independent state for the country's ethnic minority Tamils, who have suffered marginalization by ethnic Sinhalese-controlled governments.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.
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