The World - News from May 27, 1988

Indian troops backed by helicopter gunships attacked Tamil rebel camps in northern Sri Lanka in an offensive that Indian officials said has killed 30 guerrillas and 10 Indian soldiers. The United News of India news agency said 6,000 troops are involved in the drive, which began Tuesday near Mullaitivu, 170 miles northeast of Colombo. Tamil rebels fighting for an independent homeland have used the village as a smuggling base, Indians officials said. Under a 1987 agreement, India has more than 50,000 troops in Sri Lanka trying to end the Tamil insurgency.