30 killed in new fighting: Sri Lanka military

COLOMBO: A wave of fighting in Sri Lanka's civil war killed 25 Tamil Tiger rebels and five soldiers, the military said on Sunday.

Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said the worst fighting Saturday broke out when troops pushing toward the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi battled with guerrillas in Akkarayankulam village. The fighting killed 12 insurgents and five soldiers, Nanayakkara said.

Separate clashes in Jaffna, Vavuniya and Welioya killed another 13 rebels and wounded several soldiers, he said.

Rebel officials could not be reached for comment because most communication lines to the north have been cut.

It is difficult to verify military reports because journalists are barred from the northern war zone.

The government has vowed to retake all rebel areas by the end of this year and says its troops are just 3 miles (4.5 kilometers) from Kilinochchi.

Tamil Tiger rebels have fought for more than 25 years to create an independent homeland for the country's ethnic minority Tamils after a history of discrimination by governments controlled by majority ethnic Sinhalese.

More than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.