Colombo - At least 29 Tamil rebels were killed and 35 others were wounded in combat by government troops in northern Sri Lanka as security forces advanced into rebel-held areas, a military spokesman said Wednesday. The fighting was reported in the Vavuniya and Mullaitivu areas, more than 300 kilometres north of the capital. Ten of the rebels were killed in one clash where five soldiers were also wounded Tuesday, the spokesman said. Army troops killed nine rebels and wounded 15 others in a separate incident in Kilinochchi, he said. Ten more rebels were killed in sporadic clashes, the spokesman said. There was no independent confirmation about the casualty figures given by the military, or comments from the rebels about the casualty figures. The military claims the rebels are confined to two main districts in the north. The army has recaptured rebel areas in the eastern and north-western regions of the island during the past two years.

Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka said more than 9,000 rebels and 1,700 soldiers have been killed during that period. (dpa)