Sri Lanka says another 32 killed in fighting

Sri Lankan security forces have killed another 26 Tamil Tiger rebels for the loss of six of their own soldiers in the latest fighting in the north of the island.

Sri Lankan security forces have killed another 26 Tamil Tiger rebels for the loss of six of their own soldiers in the latest fighting in the north of the island, the military said on Tuesday.

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Troops pushed into territory held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on at least three fronts in the vast Wanni region on Monday, military officials said.

They said 20 government troops were also wounded in Monday's fighting and placed rebel casualties at another 29 wounded. There was no immediate word from the rebels about the military's latest claims.

The deaths raised the number of rebels killed by troops to 5,771 since January, while 528 soldiers have died in combat during the same period, according to ministry figures.

Colombo pulled out of a truce with the LTTE in January, saying it had the upper hand in the long-running conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 1972.

The Tamil Tigers are fighting for an independent homeland.