Sri Lankan troops break siege of key army base

COLOMBO - About 1,000 Government troops broke the siege of a key base yesterday, rescuing 900 trapped comrades and ending the largest battle of Sri Lanka's 10-year civil war. Army officers said the four-day battle on the shore of Jaffna Lagoon cost nearly 1,000 lives on both sides, AP reports.

'The government troops are in full control and there is no more (Tamil) Tiger resistance,' a spokesman said. The rebel force that overran Pooneryn base on Thursday retreated in boats to the Jaffna Peninsula after destroying the complex of army and naval camps and taking many weapons.