Bodies swapped in north Sri Lanka

Tamil Tiger rebels have handed over the bodies of 19 Sri Lankan soldiers to the government, the International Committee of the Red Cross says.

The troops died in recent fighting in the north of the island. The Red Cross passed on to the Tigers the bodies of two rebels killed by the army.

Both sides say they have inflicted dozens of casualties on the other over the past few days of fierce clashes.

The Tamil Tigers have been coming under sustained pressure recently.

On Tuesday, government forces captured the town of Mullavi.