Sri Lanka troops 'enter rebel HQ'

Sri Lanka's military says soldiers have entered the Tamil Tiger rebels' de facto capital Kilinochchi in the north for the first time in a decade.

Senior military officials said troops had entered the town from two sides.

On Thursday, the military said it had seized the strategically important junction of Paranthan, a crossroads north of Kilinochchi.

There has been no word from the rebels but earlier this week, they said they were successfully defending the town.

The Sri Lankan army has been advancing towards Kilinochchi for months.

Troops fighting their way towards the town have faced determined resistance for months.

Both sides have recently claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties on each other in the north of the island.

The town was captured by the rebels 10 years ago, and became their administrative headquarters.