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Fighting continues in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Fighting continues into the third day near a strategic causeway linking the mainland with Jaffna Peninsula as Tamil Tigers tried to open the only land route to their former capital, an army spokesman said on Tuesday.

The military lost 33 men, while 158 were wounded in fighting that began on Sunday night, said spokesman Major J.D.A Gunasekera.

The military said on Monday that 15 Tamil rebels were killed, the guerrillas put the figure at four.

Since November, the Tamil Tigers have been trying to regain Jaffna, their former stronghold that the military seized in 1996. Jaffna, which is linked to the mainland by the narrow Elephant Pass causeway, is 300 kilometres (185 miles) north of the capital, Colombo.

Rebel radio said they had broken through the army defences along the main highway linking the peninsula with the rest of the country.

The military while admitting that the guerrillas had breached their defences said the army had been able to "bridge" the gaps.

There was no independent confirmation of the rival claims as journalists are barred from visiting the war zone.

The Tamil rebels have been fighting for a homeland for the minority Tamils. More than 61,000 people have been killed since the war erupted in 1983.