Apr 12, Colombo: Fierce fighting between Sri Lankan troops and LTTE Tiger rebels continued today in restive Mannar region killing 30 Tigers and six soldiers as troops pushed forward ahead of the defense lines, the military said.

In a daylong battle from dawn to dusk, troops advanced into the general areas north of Giant Tank, north Kattankulam, southeast of Adampan and Parayakulam Saturday amid heavy resistance from Tigers.

Six soldiers were killed while 25 others received injuries.

In a separate incident, a LTTE hand grenade attack at an Army picket point today killed a soldier in Jaffna.

Sri Lankan government has stepped up its military campaign to wrest control of the Wanni region in embattled North from the Tigers.