Across Asia: Sri Lanka

Fighting claims 78 lives

A day of fierce clashes in Sri Lanka's embattled north has left 61 Tamil Tiger rebels and 17 soldiers dead, military said yesterday.

Government soldiers and the rebels fought several battles in northern Mannar district Sunday, killing 40 rebels and 10 soldiers while three other soldiers are reported missing, the military said in a statement.

Twenty-one other rebels and seven soldiers were also killed Sunday in scattered fighting, mortar fire and mine blasts.

(China Daily 05/20/2008 page23)