BATTICALOA, Oct 7: The Sri Lankan military claimed on Saturday that it had killed 60 guerillas of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam so far in renewed fighting that broke out on Wednesday.

The LTTE claimed in a statement on its website that it had beaten back a military offensive to capture a guerrilla-controlled town.

The guerilla outfit said it had captured two army soldiers in the ferocious fighting for Vaharai town. One of the soldiers later died of wounds.

The LTTE said it feared the Sri Lankan army would escalate its activities if international truce observers did not ensure ‘monitoring access’ to disputed areas such as Muhamalai in the north, and Vaharai in the east.