The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Colombo

Sri Lanka's defence ministry said Wednesday that its forces have made some territorial progress in fighting with the Tamil Tigers that it said killed at least 10 guerrillas.

Security forces took a three square kilometre (1.15 square miles) area in the district of Mannar on Tuesday, the ministry said, adding that five soldiers were wounded in the fighting.

"So far 10 terrorists have been killed in these confrontations," the ministry said. "Battles continue as army troops advance further in capturing uncleared territory. Five soldiers are also reported wounded in action." There was no immediate word from the Tigers, and the government prevents independent reporting from frontline areas in the north.

In other violence, at least five Tiger rebels were killed and two soldiers were wounded in the adjoining district of Vavuniya on Tuesday, the ministry said.

The defence ministry claims raise the number of rebels reported killed by government troops since the beginning of the year to 4,412, against the loss of 412 soldiers.

The LTTE are fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils from the majority Sinhalese community.