From rxpgnews.com
23 rebels killed in Sri Lanka
By Xinhua,
Apr 3, 2007 - 4:48:44 PM
Colombo, April 3 - At least 23 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed by Sri Lanka security forces in a fresh fighting in the island's east during the last 24 hours, the defence authorities claimed Tuesday.
Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe, the military spokesman said the troops 'have done limited operation in the southern and western sectors of Batticaloa and 23 LTTE members were killed in the operation,'
Samarasinghe said that the bodies of 12 members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - had been handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The military spokesman added that at least four camps of the rebels had also been destroyed.
The Sri Lankan military has been battling the rebels in the east since the middle of last year.
In September 2006 and January this year they annexed from LTTE control two key areas in the east.
The military maintains that they carry out military operations in the east in order to break the rebel's long-range artillery and mortar capability and protect the civilians.
Over 100,000 people have been displaced as a result triggering a mass scale humanitarian problem in the region.
The aid agencies have warned of scare resources and facilities to cater to the high number of internally displaced now housed in temporary camps.
The Tamil Tigers have fought for decades to create an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil minority.
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