Sri Lankan Troops Move On Rebel Base

Sri Lankan government troops have advanced toward a strategic rebel base, killing more than 200 Tamil rebel fighters, the military said Monday.

Tamil Tiger guerrillas blasted the troops with mortars and rocketpropelled grenades from six-foot-tall bunkers at the Kilinochchi base, where rebels have their political headquarters, spokesman Maj. Tilak Dunuwille said in a statement.

Fourteen soldiers were killed and 32 wounded in Sunday’s battle, the statement said.

However, the rebels issued a statement from their London office asserting that more than 100 soldiers were killed and five tanks were destroyed.