At least 75 Tamil Tiger guerrillas and 32 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed today when the heaviest fighting in months erupted on the country's northern Jaffna peninsula, military officials said.
Almost 500 fighters were wounded - 180 soldiers and 300 guerrillas - after the army launched an offensive at dawn and advanced toward the town of Pallai, the last rebel-held position within artillery range of the peninsula's two ports and only airstrip, they said.
"There is very heavy fighting, but we have gained eight square kilometres [three square miles] in new territory,"military spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne said.
There was no immediate comment from the rebels.