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Key S Lanka offensive continues Sri Lankan army 'gaining ground'
(about 12 hours later)
More territory has been captured from the Tamil Tigers, the army says, as it continues its attempt to take the rebels' stronghold of Kilinochchi. More territory has been captured from the Tamil Tigers, the Sri Lankan army says, as it continues its battle for the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi.
It says that troops have captured the village of Olumadu, south-west of the rebel-held town of Mullaitivu. It says that troops have captured the village of Olumadu, near the rebel-held town of Mullaitivu in the north.
Correspondents say that heavy fighting over the weekend has now turned into smaller skirmishes. Tensions are running high in the east where police say at least nine people, including two soldiers, have been killed in separate violent incidents.
The pro-rebel website, Tamilnet, has released photos of "dead soldiers" from the fighting around Kilinochchi. It is the greatest loss of life in a single day for months in the east.
Correspondents say the photos - if genuine - are the first to be publicly released of the weekend offensive by the army to capture the rebels' de facto capital in the north. The eastern region is governed by a coalition led by the party which defected from the Tamil Tigers, known as Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP).
'Heavy casualties'
"The battle to liberate rebel-held areas entered a new phase when the troops of Task Force Three captured Olumadu," a statement on the army's website said.
It said the village was "the first strategic place [captured] on the way to Mullaitivu along the A34 road" and that the rebels had suffered heavy casualties in two days of fighting.
See map of the region See map of the region
Two soldiers were killed in a mine attack while three rebels were killed in clashes with troops during a search operation.
A government official and two of his family members, including his 85-year-old mother, were shot dead by unidentified gunmen elsewhere in the region.
No group has admitted responsibility for the killings but the campaign group, Human Rights Watch, alleges that the TMVP is responsible for some of the recent killings and abductions.
Correspondents say that with the battle raging in the north, some view the increase in attacks on security forces in the east as a diversionary tactic by the rebels.
'Heavy casualties'
A statement on the army's website said: "The battle to liberate rebel-held areas entered a new phase when the troops of Task Force Three captured Olumadu."
The army says that it is on the verge of victoryIt said the rebels had suffered heavy casualties in two days of fighting.
The website said that troops were now consolidating their positions around Olumadu and had recovered the body of a "senior Tamil Tiger" figure.The website said that troops were now consolidating their positions around Olumadu and had recovered the body of a "senior Tamil Tiger" figure.
At Kilinochchi, military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanyakkara said troops were now 5km (2 miles) north-west of the town and less than 2km to the south-west. However, the pro-rebel website, TamilNet, has released photos of "dead soldiers" from the fighting around Kilinochchi.
"Soldiers are trying to negotiate the earth bund (mound) south of Kilinochchi, and are probing the defences," he said. Correspondents say the photos - if genuine - are the first to be publicly released of the weekend offensive by the army to capture the rebels' de facto capital in the north.
The army says that it is on the verge of victory The TamilNet website says the bodies of at least five soldiers shown on its page illustrate "the victimisation of a young generation of Sinhalese by the state".
The fighting is taking place amid heavy monsoon rain, with troops in places knee-deep in mud.
The Tamilnet website says the bodies of at least five soldiers shown on its page illustrate "the victimisation of a young generation of Sinhalese by the state".
The "identity tag" of one of the soldiers is also displayed on the site, alongside rebel claims that 43 soldiers were killed and 70 wounded in the recent fighting.The "identity tag" of one of the soldiers is also displayed on the site, alongside rebel claims that 43 soldiers were killed and 70 wounded in the recent fighting.
It says that rebel soldiers were now "clearing" areas that had successfully been defended.
The army wants to crush efforts by the rebels to secure a separate Tamil state.The army wants to crush efforts by the rebels to secure a separate Tamil state.
On Thursday the Tigers' leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is due to deliver his only speech of the year as the rebels commemorate their dead. On Thursday the Tigers' leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is to deliver his only speech of the year as the rebels commemorate their dead.
Aid agencies have estimated as many as 230,000 people in rebel-controlled areas have been displaced by the fighting.Aid agencies have estimated as many as 230,000 people in rebel-controlled areas have been displaced by the fighting.
On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch accused the pro-government TMVP militia of carrying out 30 murders and 30 kidnappings during September and October in the east.
The TMVP is made up of defected Tamil Tigers.
A provincial minister said abductions and killings had decreased.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for Tamils in the north and east since 1983 and about 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for Tamils in the north and east since 1983 and about 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.
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