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COLOMBO — New fighting in Sri Lanka's restive north killed 11 Tamil Tiger rebels and a soldier, the military said Thursday.
The worst fighting Wednesday took place in the Welioya district, where 10 rebels and a soldier were killed, the military said in a statement. Another rebel died in Mullaitivu, it said.
Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment and it was not possible to verify the military's claims because reporters are barred from the war zone.
Both sides often exaggerate their enemy's casualties and underreport their own losses.
The government says its troops are advancing into guerrilla territory and will soon capture their de facto state.
The Tamil Tiger rebels have fought since 1983 to create an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils who have faced marginalization by successive governments controlled by ethnic Sinhalese.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.
