New fighting between government forces and Tamil Tiger separatists killed 26 rebels and four soldiers in the Vavuniya, Mannar, Welioya and Jaffna areas. Troops killed 19 rebels and lost three soldiers during heavy fighting in Mannar district while other battles in Welioya and Jaffna killed four rebels. Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels condemned government moves to devolve more power to the north and east .
