Colombo: Pressed hard by advancing Sri Lankan troops, Tamil tigers today said they had beaten back government forces offensive by killing 62 soldiers on the outskirts of their stronghold of Kilinochchi, a claim disputed by Colombo.

"LTTE officials in Wanni told media that their defensive formations put up stiff resistance against the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) offensive units that attempted to advance on three fronts in southern Kilinochchi district from 5.30 am yesterday," the pro-rebel Tamilnet said.

However, a Sri Lankan army spokesman brushed aside tiger claims saying the government forces were keeping up their advance on the nerve centre of the Tamil rebels killing 41 LTTE cadres in intense clashes while losing only two soldiers.

The claims by the tigers came as the thrust by the Sri Lankan forces to capture the last two bastions of LTTE, Killinochchi and Mullaithivu, has reached a decisive stage.

The government troops are using fighter jets, helicopter gunships and heavy artillery in the offensive which has three main pincers.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan defence ministry said several LTTE rebels were killed and wounded in general area of Akkarayankulama, in the Sout-hwestern perimeters of Kilinochchi.

"The LTTE casualties are expected to soar as troops claimed to have repulsed an LTTE counter attack East of Akkarayankulam," the ministry said adding the intercepted LTTE communications said that 13 LTTE cadres were killed and nine injured in the fighting.
Source : PTI