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28 killed in LTTE counter-attacks: PTI

Nineteen Sri Lankan soldiers and nine Tamil rebels were killed as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam launched fierce counter-attacks in some newly-captured areas of government troops in the northern Jaffna peninsula, the army said on Thursday.

An LTTE statement from London on Wednesday night said heavy fighting continued in Muhumalai-Killali sectors of the peninsula, in which 150 soldiers and nine LTTE rebels were killed and over 500 security forces personnel were injured.

Reacting to LTTE claims, army spokesman Brig Sanath Karunaratne said that 19 soliders were killed and 40 wounded in the fighting since Wednesday.

Asserting that the LTTE was making 'tall claims' about capturing areas and inflicting heavy casualties on the army to 'cover up' recent territorial losses in Jaffna, he added the rebels were attempting to counter attack in Killali sector, which was captured by the troops a few days ago.

He said troops made tactical re-adjustments of bunker lines in that sector to consolidate defences. "However, there are no significant gains for the LTTE there," he said.

The army said 73 LTTE rebels and 23 troops were killed in heavy fighting on Tuesday.

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