The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Colombo

Government forces captured six Tamil Tiger rebel bunkers on the front lines in war-ravaged northern Sri Lanka and infantry killed 33 rebels and six soldiers in clashes, the military said Monday.

Fighting has escalated in recent months in the area separating government-controlled territory and the rebels' de facto state in the north.

The military has stepped up land and air attacks on rebels as the government has pledged to capture rebel-held territory and to crush the insurgents by the end of the year. Diplomats and other observers say the army has faced more resistance than expected.

The latest battles broke out Sunday in the Vavuniya, Mannar, Welioya and Jaffna areas, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said.

Army troops captured six rebel bunkers near the front lines in Vavuniya after a battle that killed 10 rebels and five soldiers, he said. The same fighting wounded 30 rebels and seven soldiers and one soldier was missing, said Nanayakkara.