The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Colombo

At least 26 Tamil rebels and a government soldier were killed in fresh fighting in Sri Lanka's north, the defence ministry said Tuesday.

The clashes were in the Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Weli Oya districts on Monday, the ministry said. There was no comment from the Tamil Tigers.

The latest fighting raises the number of rebels who have died in combat since January to 5,557, while 506 soldiers have been killed in the same period, according to a tally of defence ministry claims.

Independent verification of government figures is not possible as Colombo bars reporters from travelling to the combat zones.

Tens of thousands have died since the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam launched an armed struggle in 1972 aimed at carving out a separate homeland for minority Tamils in the island's north and east.

The government pulled out of a Norwegian-brokered truce with the rebels in January.