The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Colombo

Troops and Tamil Tiger rebels were locked in intense fighting in northern Sri Lanka Sunday after government forces smashed through the "last major defences" of the guerrillas, the defence ministry said.

It said the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched "poisonous gas attacks" to blunt the military offensive aimed at capturing the rebels' political capital of Kilinochchi, the ministry said.

Soldiers stepped up their offensive on Saturday and captured a two-kilometre (1.25-mile) stretch of the defence line set up by the Tigers near Kilinochchi, the ministry said. It said the fighting was at Akkarayankulam, about 13 kilometres southwest of Kilinochchi. Three weeks ago, the military had said it was within striking distance of Kilinochchi.

"Army's 57 division troops yesterday pierced the LTTE-built earth bund in Akkarayankulam, the terrorists' last major defence south of Kilinochchi," the defence ministry said in a statement.

It said the Tigers "launched poisonous gas attacks" on the troops. "However, troops withstood the chemical attack and beat off the terrorists," the ministry said.

It gave no details of casualties for both sides, but added: "Several soldiers made their ultimate sacrifice for the nation while many others suffered injuries during this battle."

There was no immediate comment from the Tigers.

Government soldiers fell victim to booby-trapped devices, anti-personnel mines and mortar fire, the ministry said.

"Battlefield sources confirmed that the terrorists suffered significant attrition in terms of men and material," the statement added.