The International Red Cross says the Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have handedover to its representatives the bodies of almost seventy Sri Lankan soldiers in the past three days.

The Red Cross said the troops had been killed in the latest fighting between government troops and the rebels in the north of the country.

Correspondents say such a large number of government casualties over a short period is unusual.

The Sri Lankan government has made no comment.

On Friday it announced total censorship of all domestic and foreign reporting of the fighting.