21 March, 2009 - Published 14:10 GMT

Heavy fighting in Pudukudiyirippu

The military authorities in Sri Lanka say there's been more heavy fighting in the far north of the country.

The defence ministry said the forces continued their all-out offensive on the bases of rebel Tamil Tigers.

The authorities say they've recovered the bodies of five rebels, and that rebel forces are now surrounded in a narrow strip of land near Pudukudiyirippu.

There's no independent confirmation of the figures, and the Sri Lankan military gave no details of its own casualties.