Heavy rebel losses in Lanka fighting

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COLOMBO, Sept 29 (AFP): Tamil Tigers have suffered heavy losses in a major Sri Lankan government push into their northern fiefdom, with the latest clashes leaving 30 rebels dead, the defence ministry said Monday.
The ministry said 17 rebels were killed in air and ground attacks against the guerrilla's northern capital of Kilinochchi on Sunday. The ministry said three soldiers also died in the fighting, while 80 were wounded.
Troops also killed 11 rebels and lost one soldier during fighting elsewhere in the north on Sunday, the ministry said, adding two more rebels died in the eastern town of Ampara.
There was no immediate comment from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The pro-rebel Tamilnet website, however, said the guerrillas killed six soldiers during a confrontation in the eastern coastal district of Batticaloa on Sunday.
The separatist rebels were pushed out of the east last summer, but continue to infiltrate the area.
According to the government, some 7,013 rebels have been killed in combat since January, when Colombo pulled out of a Norwegian-brokered ceasefire.
The defence ministry has acknowledged the loss of 686 of its soldiers over the same period.
The tolls cannot be independently verified since the ministry blocks independent journalists from travelling to the front lines.
The Tigers have been fighting for an independent homeland for the Tamil minority since 1972. Tens of thousands have died in the conflict.