Tamil Tigers 'killed in fighting'

Sri Lankan troops have killed 15 Tamil Tigers rebels in a battle to capture a small town in the country's north-west, the army says.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the BBC that two soldiers had also been killed during an operation to "liberate" Adampan in Mannar district.

There is no independent confirmation of the report.

Violence in Sri Lanka has intensified since January, when the government pulled out of a ceasefire agreement.

Brig Nanayakkara said Adampan was a Tamil Tiger stronghold.

"They had built fortified connected bunkers in the area," he said.

"The area had to be liberated for people to settle down there."

He said seven soldiers had been injured in the operation.

The rebels admitted that fierce fighting was going on around Adampan.

But a rebel spokesman said the military had announced the capture of the town four months ago - and asked how many times they were going to make the same claim.

Last month, the rebels bombed military targets in the Welioya region in north-east of Sri Lanka using light aircraft.

The Tigers have fought for a generation for an independent state for the Tamil minority.

At least 70,000 people have died since the civil war began in 1983.