COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, October 17, SPA -- A series of battles between government troops and Tamil separatists across northern Sri Lankan has killed eight rebels, the military announcedWednesday. The rebels disputed the figure. The fighting came amid weeks of increased tensions betweenthe government and the Tamil Tigers along the front linessurrounding the rebels' mini-state in part of northern SriLanka. The battles began about 10:20 a.m. Tuesday when rebelstried to cross into the government-controlled Jaffnapeninsula at the village of Nagarkovil, the military saidin a statement. Troops killed one rebel in the fighting,the military was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. Later in the day, rebels attacked soldiers in the villageof Muhamalai in two separate incidents that left six rebelsdead, the military reported. Early Wednesday, 10 rebels believed to be fleeing from thenortheastern wilderness of Thoppigala were attacked bysecurity forces, who killed one fighter outside the city ofTrincomalee, the military said.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/491002