S Lanka army 'captures' key town

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The Sri Lankan military says that it has advanced deeper into territory held by Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the country and captured a key town.

The defence ministry produced photographs showing soldiers in control of the Mallavi town centre and what was described as a rebel command post.

An army spokesman said troops were still searching for rebels in the area.

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east for 25 years.

More than 70,000 people have died in the conflict .

The Tamil Tigers have not commented on the military's claims and with journalists barred from the conflict zone, they cannot be independently verified.

The rebels have come under sustained pressure from the government's air and ground forces, and they have been gradually forced to cede territory in several areas in recent months.

The army says Mallavi town is a big commercial hub, and the birthplace of Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's wife.

"Domination of the well-known Mallavi town... marked one more decisive and impressive phase of the 'war for peace'," news agency AFP quoted the defence ministry as saying.

Fighting has intensified in Sri Lanka in recent months as soldiers have advanced, aiming to crush the rebels and win the war which began a generation ago.

Tens of thousands of people have fled from the Tiger-controlled areas.