Soldiers launched a series of attacks on Tamil Tiger rebels across the front lines in the Vavuniya region Saturday, killing 19 rebels, a defense ministry official said.

Three soldiers also died in the operation and seven others were wounded, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Separate battles in nearby Mannar district killed 11 guerrillas and two soldiers, he said. Fourteen troops were also wounded.

Soldiers also killed seven rebels in Jaffna peninsula Saturday and one soldier died, the official said. Three guerrillas were killed in the northeastern Welioya region.

Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan did not answer telephone calls seeking comment Sunday.

It was not possible to independently verify the reports because of limited access to the north. Both sides often inflate their opponents' casualty figures and lower their own.

Fighting has escalated in recent months after senior government officials vowed to crush the rebels this year and end more than two decades of civil war. Government forces have opened up four fronts around rebel-held territory, while the air force has targeted the Tiger's leadership.

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils after decades of being marginalized by Sinhalese-dominated governments. The fighting has killed more than 70,000 people.

A 2002 cease-fire fostered hopes for a lasting peace, but the truce broke down as new fighting over the past two years killed 5,000 people.

More than 800 people have been killed since the government announced last month it was quitting the cease-fire, according to the military.Discuss this story Published: Sun Feb 10 01:39:38 EST 2008

Colombo has pressed the armed forces to take the battle into the heart of LTTE-controlled territory whereas the Tigers have resorted to targeted attacks in public places and utilities. Despite the concern raised by the international community over the breakdown of negotiations, neither party has relented from its position.

Colombo says that the many rounds of talks, some of them mediated by international organisations, have not produced any substantial results. Tigers use the ceasefire to recuperate and rebuild their arsenal. There is a lot of truth in this claim. However, that is not sufficient reason to pull out of the c More... Discuss this story Published: Sun Feb 10 19:25:16 EST 2008

Army general Sarath Fonseka said in an interview with the Lakbima weekly Sinhalese newspaper that a military campaign to capture the rebel-held Wanni region in the north begun in March last year was proceeding according to plan.

More... Discuss this story Published: Sun Feb 10 09:29:00 EST 2008