COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, December 21, SPA -- A rebel-affiliated Web site says a pre-emptive strike against Sri Lankan troops has killed60 soldiers close to the insurgents' northern headquarters, Associated Press reported. The Tamil Net Web site reports the guerrillas attackedsoldiers preparing for an offensive Saturday in Iranamaduvillage, south of the rebels' de facto capital,Kilinochchi. It says the rebels forced the soldiers to abandon somerecently captured territory. Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara says there werea «few» deaths but the army has beaten back the rebels.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/618101