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Fighting breaks out in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka clashes hit peace hopes
(about 5 hours later)
Fresh fighting has broken out between Sri Lanka's military and Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the island, the military has said. At least 22 Sri Lankan soldiers have been killed in fierce fighting with Tamil Tiger rebels, the military says.
A military official said two soldiers had been wounded in the fighting in the Jaffna peninsula. More than 100 troops were wounded in the clashes in northern Jaffna peninsula. A "large number" of rebels had also died, an army statement said.
The rebels claimed that the army had launched a "large scale operation". The military and the rebels accuse each other of stepping up attacks.
The fighting comes nearly a week after the Tigers said they had agreed to hold peace talks at the end of October. A day earlier the two sides finalised a date and venue for talks later this month - which the BBC's Dumeetha Luthra says are now hanging in the balance.
However the two sides have yet to agree to a talks venue. The Tigers favour Oslo, while the government favours Geneva. The Tigers have said they are currently considering their position but have not pulled out. The country's key backers have requested a cessation of hostilities before talks begin.
Sri Lankan military spokesman Brig Prasad Samarasinghe told the Associated Press news agency that the rebels had been "continuously firing artillery and mortars since last [Tuesday] night towards the defence line in the Jaffna peninsula". Artillery
He said the army was responding by using artillery. The army statement said the worst of the clashes near Jaffna lasted about five hours.
A rebel spokesman said the army had launched a major operation against their positions. At least 113 injured soldiers were being evacuated for treatment after a lull in fighting, it said.
"They have begun a large-scale operation along the northern defence line," rebel spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told the Associated Press by telephone. "Ground troops confirmed that a large number of terrorist dead bodies were also found scattered around," it added.
"They are advancing from all around the defence line," he said. There was no word from the rebels on how many of their fighters had died.
Cautious optimism Heavy artillery fire could be heard in the town of Jaffna, Reuters news agency said.
The military said its forces had responded to rebel attacks with artillery and air raids against rebel gun positions.
Earlier, a rebel spokesman said the movement's fighters were retaliating after being attacked by the military.
"They have begun a large-scale operation along the northern defence line," rebel spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan told the Associated Press news agency by telephone.
"They are advancing from all around the defence line."
Both sides maintain they are acting defensively, our correspondent says, and have retained the right to do so despite agreeing to resume discussions.
Thousands of civilians have been caught up in the latest violence, in which hundreds of people have died this year.
Talks
Sri Lanka has been close to peace talks before only for them to fail at the last minute.
On Tuesday, Norwegian ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar, told the BBC that the rebels had confirmed they were ready to meet the government on 28 and 29 October in Switzerland.
However, he said the Tigers had told him they could reconsider their decision if the situation on the ground deteriorated.
Last week, the Sri Lankan government outlined plans for a 40% increase in defence spending for 2007, to cover increased weapons procurement and air strike costs.Last week, the Sri Lankan government outlined plans for a 40% increase in defence spending for 2007, to cover increased weapons procurement and air strike costs.
Thousands of civilians have been caught up in the latest violence.
Last week, the Tigers said they had agreed to attend talks mediated by Norwegian negotiators.
Sri Lankan officials earlier stated that they had agreed to hold talks with the rebels on 28 and 29 October in Switzerland, and were awaiting a response.
The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says there is a cautious optimism over the talks, despite escalating violence.
But Sri Lanka has been close to peace talks before, our correspondent says, only for them to fail at the last minute.
The government says that it wants to discuss substantive issues which would lead to a long-term solution.The government says that it wants to discuss substantive issues which would lead to a long-term solution.
The rebels have been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland for over 20 years. The rebels have been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland for more than 20 years.