World IN BRIEF : SRI LANKA : Troops Recapture Base From Rebels

Sri Lankan forces recaptured a key northern military base that was overrun by waves of Tamil separatist rebels last Thursday, ending the fiercest battle of the 10-year civil war. Seaborne commandos and infantry fought through jungles and minefields to retake the Pooneryn army and navy complex and rescued 900 soldiers who had held out there since the camp was invaded. The army said 500 of its men were dead or missing and claimed that 700 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed. The rebels have been silent about their casualties since Friday, when they said they had lost 93 fighters. The rebels retreated in boats across a lagoon to the northern Jaffna Peninsula after destroying the camp.