COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, December 21, SPA -- Soldiers and Tamil separatists fought gun battles across embattled northern Sri Lanka, killing 19 insurgents and two soldiers, the military said Monday. Troops killed 10 Tamil Tiger rebels in confrontations inthree villages in the Vavuniya district on Sunday, justsouth of rebel-held territory, a defense ministry officialsaid on condition of anonymity because he is not authorizedto speak the media. One soldier was also killed, the Associated Press reported. Separate battles in nearby Mannar district left eightinsurgents and one soldier dead, and another rebel waskilled on the northern Jaffna peninsula, the official said.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/511782