COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, July 20, SPA -- Fighting between governmenttroops and separatist Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka's embattlednorthern region has killed 16 rebels and a soldier, themilitary said Sunday. The latest infantry clashes erupted Saturday along thefront lines in the Vavuniya, Mannar and Welioya regionsbordering the rebels' de facto northern state, saidmilitary spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara. Fighting in Vavuniya killed 11 rebels and wounded twosoldiers, while five rebels were killed and four soldierswere wounded in nearby Mannar district, he said. Separately, a soldier was killed by a sniper's bullet inMannar, he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediatelybe reached for comment.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/575209