Sri Lanka fighting rages, at least 67 killed

Heavy fighting across Sri Lanka's war-torn north has left at least 59 rebels and eight soldiers dead, the defence ministry said Monday.

The ministry said the latest fighting saw fierce battles along several front lines, with government troops and fighter jets appearing to step up their effort to capture the Tamil Tiger stronghold of Kilinochchi.

The clashes left 31 guerrillas and 28 soldiers wounded, the ministry said. Official figures cannot be independently verified.

President Mahinda Rajapakse's government is pushing to dismantle the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) stronghold in the north, after wresting back the east in July 2007.

Government security forces are battling close to the outskirts of Kilinochchi and are fighting their way to the coastal town and key rebel base of Mullaittivu.

The defence ministry says it has killed 6,820 LTTE fighters since January, while 669 government soldiers have died during the same period.

Sri Lanka's police have started registering thousands of people, nearly all ethnic Tamils, who have fled the war-torn north for the capital Colombo.

All those who arrived in the city in the last five years were ordered to attend special registration centres.

The government says the rebel Tamil Tigers are using the influx of people to infiltrate the city and plant bombs.

It comes as the latest military offensive against the separatist Tamil Tigers continues in northern Sri Lanka.

The registration was ordered for people who had arrived in Colombo and surrounding towns from five northern districts.

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said those without what he called a valid reason to stay should leave the area.

The registration centres were set up in schools and temples across the capital city and surrounding towns.