Colombo - Heavy casualties have been reported in fresh attacks by troops on Tamil Tiger separatist positions in the north of Sri Lanka.
Soldiers backed by tanks and artillery advanced toward rebel positions in the district of Mannar on Saturday amid intense resistance, the defence ministry said. Sixteen government soldiers were killed and 33 wounded, while 71 guerrillas were also killed and many more wounded.
For their part, the Tamil Tigers said more than 100 government soldiers were killed, making the total number of enemy dead claimed by both sides 171. The Tigers listed their own casualties at 22 dead.