9 killed in fresh clashes in Sri Lanka
Foreign Desk Report

COLOMBO—Fresh clashes between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tigers across the northern front line saw two paramilitary policemen and seven rebels killed, the defence ministry said Friday.
The policemen were killed in a mine explosion Friday, the defence ministry said, blaming the attack on the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Security forces claimed the seven rebels died in separate attacks during a 24-hour period ending Friday morning, with one soldier wounded.
There was no immediate comment from the LTTE. Independent verification is not possible as journalists are not allowed to travel to rebel-held areas.
Tens of thousands of people have died since 1972 when the LTTE launched a campaign to carve out an independent homeland for minority Tamils in the majority Sinhalese island nation.