Sri Lankan troops push further into rebel territory

Colombo: Government troops have pushed further into Tamil Tiger territory a day after capturing one of the rebel group's last remaining strongholds in northern Sri Lanka.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said soldiers were clearing an area on the northern Jaffna peninsula still in rebel hands on Saturday.

Soldiers are also pushing from two directions into a small northeastern territory where the rebels have been forced to retreat in the face of months of government offensives.

The operations follow the government's capture Friday of the rebels strategic Elephant Pass base, the last stronghold of the insurgents on the northern peninsula.

The army says 26 rebels and three soldiers died in fighting on Friday.

Rebel officials could not be reached for comment.