At least seven people killed in Sri Lanka

Military officials in Sri Lanka say at least seven people have been killed in separate clashes between government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels at the weekend.

A spokesman said troops ambushed and killed three guerrillas in the Jaffna peninsula today, hours after two rebels were killed in a separate clash in the region.

Yesterday, the officials said rebels shot dead two soldiers.

Security has been stepped up in Jaffna ahead of elections later this month.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service