23 dead in Sri Lanka fighting: military

Sri Lankan troops killed 23 Tamil Tigers as they advanced into rebel-held territory, the defence ministry said Tuesday. One soldier died and nine were wounded during Monday's fighting across the north while airforce jets bombed rebel gun positions and gave cover to advancing troops, the statement said. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) did not comment on the offensive but the pro-rebel Tamilnet website accused army special commandos of setting off a roadside mine inside rebel-held Puliyankulam on Monday.