COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, December 11, SPA -- Separatist Tamil rebels fought intense battles against government forces trying to advanceon the militants' de facto capital in northern Sri Lanka,killing at least 89 soldiers, a rebel-affiliated Web sitesaid Thursday. The military disputed the death toll, saying that pitchedbattles in the north over the past two days had left 20soldiers and 27 rebels dead, according to a report of Associated Press. The TamilNet Web site reported that heavy fighting tookplace Wednesday around the rebel headquarters ofKilinochchi between guerrillas and government troops tryingto advance into rebel-held territory. In the worst fighting, rebels repulsed advances bysoldiers on the villages of Oottuppulam and Puthumurippu,west of Kilinochchi, killing more than 60 soldiers, the Website reported, citing unidentified rebel officials. Separately, heavy clashes to the south of Kilinochchikilled an additional 29 soldiers, it said. The Web site said the bodies of a dozen soldiers wererecovered from the villages west of Kilinochchi along witha dozen assault rifles and ammunition. Rebel officials did not release their casualty details,the Web site said.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/615600