Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels Tuesday said they resisted a major military offensive against them by killing at least 45 government troops for the loss of 12 of their own fighters.
The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they beat back a three-pronged offensive by government forces in the district of Batticaloa, inflicting heavy losses on the military.
"Forty-five Sri Lankan military troops were killed and another 150 badly injured," the Tigers said in a statement. For its part, the defence ministry said its forces lost only four soldiers, with 20 wounded. The military placed rebel losses at 30 Tigers killed.