At least 33 Sri Lankan government soldiers and 11 Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed in the latest heavy fighting in the north of the island, the defence ministry said on Monday.Government forces also suffered at least 48 soldiers wounded and another three soldiers missing in the latest battles with Tamil Tiger guerrillas since Saturday south of the rebel political capital of Kilinochchi. The ministry admitted that scores of its troops had been killed or injured in fierce fighting with the Tamil Tigers, its biggest reported battlefield loss in months. Security forces also recovered the bodies of 11 members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) following the weekend clashes.
Territorial claim: Sri Lankan government forces have taken more territory from Tamil rebels after intense weekend battles in the north of the island, the defence ministry said on Monday. Heavy fighting raged in the Wanni region, where security forces are trying to capture the rebel base of Kilinochchi, still about 10 to 15 kilometres away from the army's main frontline, the military said. "Troops have captured approximately half a square kilometre of land area from the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)," the defence ministry said. Aid officials who had rare access to the region said the Tigers had built a network of bunkers and other defences in the area, from where local civilians were evacuated weeks ago to other LTTE-held parts of the north. There was no immediate comment from the rebel LTTE, but the pro-rebel Puthinam.com website said they allowed troops to advance into their territory only to hit them with heavy fire.