Tigers claim killing 22 Lankan troops

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COLOMBO, Sep 16 (AFP): Separatist Tamil Tiger rebels Tuesday said they beat back a stiff army offensive into their northern stronghold, killing 22 soldiers and wounding 53.
The pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said troops were repulsed as they tried to move into the guerrillas' political capital in Kilinochchi district Monday.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) did not give their own casualty figures, but released pictures of bodies of dead soldiers and arms they had recovered, the report said.
There was no immediate comment from the Sri Lanka's defence ministry on the rebel claims.
However, the ministry said 18 rebels and three soldiers were killed on Monday, during fierce gun battles in the north.
Casualty figures from either side cannot be independently verified as the defence ministry bars reporters from travelling to the frontlines.
Monday's fighting raised the number of rebels killed by troops since January to 6,560, while 638 soldiers have lost their lives during the same period, according to a ministry toll.
Troops are focused on dismantling the rebels' northern stronghold after ejecting the guerrillas from the east in July 2007.