Colombo - The fiercest fighting in months erupted on Sri Lanka's northern Jaffna peninsula yesterday, leaving at least 25 soldiers dead in an offensive to recapture territory lost to Tamil Tiger rebels earlier this year.
Military officials said more than 200 other soldiers were wounded in the operation, which was launched a day before nominations for parliamentary elections close today.
The officials said there was fierce fighting in several places around Meesalai, where the offensive was launched, some 20 km from Jaffna on the main highway linking the city to mainland Sri Lanka. Rebel casualty figures were not immediately available.
