Sri Lanka advances in war with rebels

KILINOCHCHI, Sri Lanka - Battle tanks rumbled north, attack helicopters flew overhead, and artillery fire roared through the jungles as Sri Lankan forces pushed ahead yesterday with an offensive aimed at capturing the Tamil Tigers' last strongholds and crushing the rebel group.

A rebel-affiliated website reported that the insurgents stalled a military advance on the road to its northeastern stronghold of Mullaittivu, killing 43 soldiers and wounding 80 others yesterday, two days after the military seized the rebels' administrative capital of Kilinochchi.

The government led a victory tour of the newly seized areas in the north, providing journalists a rare glimpse of the war zone and the damage left behind.

The army was using Paranthan Junction, a strategic crossroads the military captured Thursday, as a staging area to send troops into the fight for two of the biggest prizes remaining in the battle, the rebel-held areas of Elephant Pass to the north and Mullaittivu to the east.

TamilNet website reported that the government troops started their thrust east of Paranthan but were forced to abandon their march after suffering heavy casualties.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara confirmed there were sporadic clashes in the region but denied significant casualties.

"Day by day, the Tigers' territory is shrinking and their numbers are dwindling," said Major General Jagath Dias, who commanded the battle for the town of Kilinochchi.

ASSOCIATED PRESS