Heavy fighting claims 77 lives in Sri Lanka
'Pakistan Times' Wire Service

COLOMBO: At least 77 Tamil Tiger rebels and three Sri Lankan soldiers have been killed in the latest battles in the island's north, according to the defence ministry on Thursday.

It said the three days of fighting that ended on Thursday occurred in the Vavuniya, Mannar and Weli Oya areas, from where government forces are trying to push into the guerrillas' northern territory.

Troops on Thursday advanced into rebel-controlled areas in the Mannar district killing 10 guerillas, the statement said, adding that one soldier was killed and another injured in the clashes.

Elsewhere, the military accused the rebels of gunning down a father of two in Vavuniya on Thursday.

There was no immediate comment from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.●