COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Recent clashes between government forces and Tamil guerrillas in the northeast have killed at least 20 guerrillas and five government soldiers, the defense ministry said Thursday.

Government troops killed 10 fighters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on Wednesday in Trincomalee, 140 miles northeast of the capital, Colombo. Two government soldiers also were killed.

Another major battle took place in Batticaloa, 70 miles south of Trincomalee. Eight rebels and three soldiers were killed.

Two rebels were killed in Mankulam, 155 miles north of Colombo. And rebels shot to death a policeman in Mannar, 135 miles north of Colombo.