WORLD IN BRIEF : SRI LANKA : Rebels Hold Off Soldiers at Base
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Tamil rebels thwarted several attempts by government troops to relieve a besieged northern military base where at least 250 government forces and 150 rebels are dead, military and rebel sources said. The rebels captured much of the isolated Pooneryn base in the first big victory in several years for Tamil militants who want independence from Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese majority. Military sources said the death toll could rise to 400 government troops.
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