COLOMBO, May 8: At least 74 Tamil Tiger rebels and three Sri Lankan soldiers have been killed in the latest battles in the island’s north, according to the defence ministry on Thursday.

It said the three days of fighting that ended on Thursday occurred in the Vavuniya, Mannar and Weli Oya areas, from where government forces are trying to push into the guerillas’ northern territory.

Troops advanced into rebel-controlled areas in the Mannar district killing 10 guerillas, the statement said, addin.g that one soldier was killed and another injured in the clashes.—AFP