Colombo  - At least 24 bodies of rebels were recovered overnight after heavy fighting between government troops and Tamil rebels in northern Sri Lanka, a military spokesman said Friday.

Fighting was reported Thursday in the Cheddikulam area of Vavuniya, 270 kilometres north of Colombo, as troops advanced into rebel-controlled areas, the spokesman said.

The fighting lasted late into the night and eventually the rebels withdrew, he said.

Troops recovered 16 T-56 automatic rifles, two rocket- propelled grenades and a light machine gun left behind by the guerillas.

The government planned to hand over the bodies to the International Committee for the Red Cross, which was then to transfer them to the rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

There was no independent confirmation of the fighting.

Government troops are conducting operations to recapture rebel-held areas in the north after declaring that they intended to take them back before the end of the year. (dpa)