Associated Press Writer - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lanka - 's government on Wednesday accused Tamil Tiger rebels of abducting at least 455 underage boys and girls from government-controlled areas this year to be trained as combatants and asked the insurgents to stop the practice. The insurgents control a vast area of northeast Sri Lanka - where they have their own laws and run their own courts, police and administrative system.
Separately, the rebels attacked a military checkpoint in northwestern Sri Lanka - early Wednesday, killing a soldier before fleeing, Samarasinghe said.
``They threw a hand grenade and opened fire at the checkpoint in Mannar,'' Samarasinghe said.
The military has set up several checkpoints to protect a navy base in Mannar, about 220 kilometers (135 miles) northwest of the capital, Colombo.
The rebels accuse the majority Sinhalese of discrimination and want a separate homeland. The government says it can only offer limited autonomy.
Separately, the rebels attacked a military checkpoint in northwestern Sri Lanka - early Wednesday, killing a soldier before fleeing, Samarasinghe said.
``They threw a hand grenade and opened fire at the checkpoint in Mannar,'' Samarasinghe said.
The military has set up several checkpoints to protect a navy base in Mannar, about 220 kilometers (135 miles) northwest of the capital, Colombo.
The rebels accuse the majority Sinhalese of discrimination and want a separate homeland. The government says it can only offer limited autonomy.
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