The World - News from Nov. 21, 1988

Attacks by Tamil guerrillas in Sri Lanka killed a civilian and 16 Indian soldiers, military sources said, but the attacks failed to derail elections in eastern districts in Tamil-dominated Northeast province. Election returns gave the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front 17 of the 35 contested seats on the 71-seat regional council, which oversees the province and carries semi-autonomous powers. The front, which last month was awarded 36 seats in the province’s five northern districts, now holds a clear majority. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress also won 17 seats, with the remaining spot going to the nation’s ruling United National Party. The council is the last step in implementing the 1987 India-Sri Lanka peace plan to end the Tamils’ war for independence.