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| 'Dozens dead' in S Lanka fighting | 'Dozens dead' in S Lanka fighting |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sri Lanka's military says it killed more than 40 Tamil Tiger fighters in fresh fighting in the north of the island on Monday. | |
| It says 10 soldiers had also lost their lives in the battles. | It says 10 soldiers had also lost their lives in the battles. |
| The Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983. | The Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983. |
| The civil war in Sri Lanka has intensified since last month, when the government pulled out of a ceasefire with the rebels. | The civil war in Sri Lanka has intensified since last month, when the government pulled out of a ceasefire with the rebels. |
| Monday's fighting took place on the frontlines that surround territory the rebels hold in the north of the island. | Monday's fighting took place on the frontlines that surround territory the rebels hold in the north of the island. |
| Many of the casualties to the Sri Lankan army were caused by landmines and booby traps, according to the military spokesman, Brig Udaya Nanayakkara. | Many of the casualties to the Sri Lankan army were caused by landmines and booby traps, according to the military spokesman, Brig Udaya Nanayakkara. |
| Rare admission | Rare admission |
| He said troops had pushed across the frontlines in Weli Oya in the north-east on Monday and destroyed bunkers, killing 13 Tamil Tiger fighters. | He said troops had pushed across the frontlines in Weli Oya in the north-east on Monday and destroyed bunkers, killing 13 Tamil Tiger fighters. |
| By the time the forces pulled back to their original positions, 10 soldiers had also died and 25 more had been wounded. | By the time the forces pulled back to their original positions, 10 soldiers had also died and 25 more had been wounded. |
| It is rare for Sri Lanka's military to admit suffering such heavy losses in a single battle. | It is rare for Sri Lanka's military to admit suffering such heavy losses in a single battle. |
| There was more fighting elsewhere on the forward defensive positions that surround Tiger-held territory in the north. | There was more fighting elsewhere on the forward defensive positions that surround Tiger-held territory in the north. |
| The military says a total of 42 rebels were killed on Monday. | The military says a total of 42 rebels were killed on Monday. |
| The Tigers have not commented on the claims. But they routinely say the military's figures are wildly exaggerated. | The Tigers have not commented on the claims. But they routinely say the military's figures are wildly exaggerated. |
| The commander of Sri Lanka's army, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, has said he intends to defeat the Tamil Tigers by the end of this year. | The commander of Sri Lanka's army, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, has said he intends to defeat the Tamil Tigers by the end of this year. |
| The battles in the north are part of a war of attrition, aimed at weakening the rebels before a possible offensive to take the areas they control. | The battles in the north are part of a war of attrition, aimed at weakening the rebels before a possible offensive to take the areas they control. |