Sri Lankan troops kill 42 rebels: military

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan troops have killed dozens of Tamil Tiger rebels during ground battles across the war-torn island's northern district, the defence ministry said Monday.The military said 42 rebels died in fighting on Sunday, while 10 of its soldiers were injured.The ground battles raised to 5,102 the number of rebels the ministry has said it has killed since January, while listing 447 troop losses in the same period.The military figures cannot be independently verified because the ministry prevents journalists from travelling to the frontlines.The Tamil Tigers did not comment on the casualties, but said eight civilians were injured when the navy and airforce shelled a coastal fishing community in the island's north on Sunday.Army chief Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka Saturday said forces had wiped out two-thirds of the Tigers' military capability.