Over 200 Tigers killed in Lanka clashes

Both the LTTE and Sri Lankan forces today claimed they had taken or recaptured territory after heavy artillery exchanges. Some of the worst fighting was reported in Jaffna, where thousands of government soldiers are stationed on the isolated peninsula, cut off by rebel territory and accessible only by sea. 8220;The LTTE is definitely pushing the country to war,8221;

Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told a news conference.

Peace official shot dead: The Deputy secretary general of the government8217;s Peace Secratariat Ketheesh Loganathan was gunned down by unidentified assailants at his home in Colombo8217;s Dehiwala suburb, police said. The Peace Secretariat co-ordinates the Norwegian-brokered peace process between the government and the LTTE.