Fighting Kills 35 Hiding in Church
From Times Wire Reports
Artillery shells fell around an ancient Dutch-built church filled with refugees in northern Sri Lanka, killing at least 35 villagers and injuring 80, amid fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels, a church official said. Bishop Raiaippu Joseph said more than 3,500 people had taken shelter in the church compound to escape the fighting. Sri Lankan troops had launched an offensive to retake parts of the Madhu church area that rebels had seized.
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