Sri Lanka rebels toll reaches to 100
'Pakistan Times' Wire Service

COLOMBO: Heavy fighting between Tamil Tiger rebels and Sri Lankan troops in the north of the island over the weekend has resulted in heavy casualties, both sides said Monday.

According to the defence ministry, clashes on Saturday and Sunday in the districts of Mannar, Vavuniya and Weli Oya left at least 100 rebels and five soldiers dead.

It said security forces kept up a major offensive against the Tigers and had taken more of the guerrillas' bunker lines.

The pro-rebel website, however, said that the Tigers had killed 55 government troops and wounded another 120 in Saturday's fighting alone.

The website did not give rebel casualties.●