Five soldiers, 31 rebels killed in Sri Lanka

Five soldiers and 31 rebels were killed in northern Sri Lanka, military officials said Monday, as a nine-day truce declared by Tamil rebels but rejected by the government was drawing to an end.Three soldiers were killed Sunday in a grenade explosion in the Thanankilappu area, 390 km north of Colombo, ... ...two soldiers were killed in Vellankulam, 380 km north of the capital.At least 26 rebels were killed Sunday in clashes in the Vellankulam area as government troops advanced as they tried to recapture more rebel-controlled areas, a military spokesman said.Five more rebels were killed in the Vavuniya area, 250 km north of Colombo.The nine-day truce declared by the rebels, who are seeking an independent state for the Tamil ethnic minority, ends Monday. They declared it for a South Asian regional summit in Colombo that was attended by the heads of state of eight nations.

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