In a decisive war against Tamil Tiger rebels, the Sri Lankan army has launched a push to capture Kilinochchi, the rebels' administrative headquarters in the north, the troops have been pounding the rebels' defences from three directions since Sunday morning. The military says both sides have suffered casualties.
The government forces are attempting to crush the Tigers and end their two and a half decade old fight for a separate state for the ethnic Tamil minority.
Advancing troops have begun attacking bunker lines around Kilinochchi from several directions, according to the spokesman for Sri Lanka's military, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.
He said the Tigers were putting up stiff resistance and both sides had suffered casualties.
Kilinochchi is a key target of the government's offensive to try to crush the rebels. The town has been the Tigers' de facto capital, with political offices, courts, a police headquarters and other administrative buildings.
Its capture would be a major symbolic victory for government forces - but would leave the rebels still in control of territory in the north-east of Sri Lanka around Mullaitivu.
The Tigers' leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is due to deliver his only speech of the year Thursday, when the rebels commemorate their dead.
With communication lines cut to the north, the Tigers have not commented on the military's claims directly.
But the website TamilNet, which reports from rebel areas, said since Friday at least 78 government soldiers had been killed in battles around Kilinochchi.
It added that heavy rain was increasing the hardship for civilians.
Aid agencies have estimated as many as 230,000 people in rebel controlled areas have been displaced by the fighting.
The rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for Tamils in the north and east since 1983 and about 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.
The government forces are attempting to crush the Tigers and end their two and a half decade old fight for a separate state for the ethnic Tamil minority.
Advancing troops have begun attacking bunker lines around Kilinochchi from several directions, according to the spokesman for Sri Lanka's military, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.
He said the Tigers were putting up stiff resistance and both sides had suffered casualties.
Kilinochchi is a key target of the government's offensive to try to crush the rebels. The town has been the Tigers' de facto capital, with political offices, courts, a police headquarters and other administrative buildings.
Its capture would be a major symbolic victory for government forces - but would leave the rebels still in control of territory in the north-east of Sri Lanka around Mullaitivu.
The Tigers' leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is due to deliver his only speech of the year Thursday, when the rebels commemorate their dead.
With communication lines cut to the north, the Tigers have not commented on the military's claims directly.
But the website TamilNet, which reports from rebel areas, said since Friday at least 78 government soldiers had been killed in battles around Kilinochchi.
It added that heavy rain was increasing the hardship for civilians.
Aid agencies have estimated as many as 230,000 people in rebel controlled areas have been displaced by the fighting.
The rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for Tamils in the north and east since 1983 and about 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.
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