Around the World: Sri Lanka

420 rebels killed in 3 days

Sri Lankan forces killed 420 Tamil Tigers in the last three days and drove the rebels into a "no-fire" zone crowded with tens of thousands of civilians trying to flee the fighting, the military said yesterday.

Government troops captured the entire Puthukkudiyiruppu area, the last rebel stronghold on the edge of the safety zone in the island's war-ravaged north, military spokesman brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.