Army pushes into rebel territory

Battles, bombings and air raids killed at least 34 people across northern Sri Lanka, the military said, as a Japanese envoy met with officials to try to stop the fighting.

In the latest attack, soldiers thrust into Tamil Tiger rebel territory in northern Mannar district and captured nine bunkers, killing nine insurgents, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said. Two soldiers also died in the fighting, he said.

Earlier, a roadside bomb hit a van just south of the front lines separating government forces from the Tigers’ de facto state in the north, Nanayakkara said.