Jan 12, Colombo: Heavy fighting erupted between the Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tigers in northern battle fronts killed at least 85 Tigers over Friday and Saturday, the military said.

Soldiers advancing ahead of Wanni defence lines overran an LTTE strongpoint this morning killing at least 15 Tigers in the Palaikkuli general area, defence reports said.

A soldier was killed, while five other soldiers injured during the advance, sources added.

In a series of battles yesterday in Wanni and Jaffna at least 66 Tigers were killed and many others were injured as soldiers continued to attack LTTE defences in the region.

Also, one soldier was killed and 28 others suffered injuries during the clashes that prevailed throughout the day on the Vavuniya, Mannar and Muhamalai battlefronts, the military said.

. Meanwhile Army handed over bodies of six Tigers killed in confrontation during the past two days to the ICRC officials this morning at the Omanthai Entry/Exit point.

Fighting has escalated as the Sri Lankan government decided to pull out from the 2002 ceasefire agreement from January 16. Government soldiers have made significant advances in the northern battlefronts recently pushing the Tigers further into the jungles.