Sri Lanka: Both sides claim to have inflicted heavy casualties in recent fighting

Both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE, are claiming to have killed or wounded scores of combatants during recent heavy fighting.

The Sri Lankan military claim to have killed at least 45 LTTE rebels, while the Tamil Eelam News Service reports, the "LTTE counter attacked with intense fire power on the Sri Lankan security forces who attempted to move through Paalakulli area on Tuesday and SF troopers tried to advance into the LTTE held Adampan area using heavy artillery and mortars. " The report claims at least 20 SF troopers were killed.

In further fighting the report claims, "LTTE snipers gunned down at least 22 SF troopers while more than 53 SF troopers were badly wounded in the Battle in Mannaar today and had to be removed from the battle ground in Mannaar, according rebel sources in Mannaar."