Sri Lanka gains ground from rebels: military

January 13, 2009 (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops have captured more territory from Tamil Tigers in fierce fighting around the rebels' last stronghold in the northeast of the island, the defence ministry said Tuesday. Heavy fighting was reported around guerrilla-controlled Mullaittivu district on Monday, with troops seizing a rebel administration base, a training camp and a bunker line, the ministry said.

"After bitter clashes... troops captured a LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) administration base inflicting heavy damages on the terrorists," the ministry said in a statement.

Casualty details on both sides were not known, but the ministry said troops recovered three rebel bodies after the confrontation.

Military claims cannot be verified as the independent media are barred from travelling to the frontlines.

The LTTE did not comment on Monday's fighting, but the rebels have admitted loosing ground in recent weeks -- including the northern town of Kilinochchi which they used as their political base for nearly a decade.
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Sri Lanka has poured in a record 1.7 billion dollars into this year's war effort as troops push to eject the Tigers from their last stronghold in the jungle and lagoon