Sri Lanka launches rebel offensive

The conflict between the government and Tamil rebels has caused the loss of about 64,000 lives

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Fighting has erupted in eastern Sri Lanka as government paramilitary forces launched an offensive against Tamil Tiger guerrillas, police said.

Initial reports say 15 rebels have been killed, but neither sides have confirmed the death toll.

On Monday, troops of the elite Police Special Task Force were combing the areas in the jungles about 240 km (150 miles) east of the capital Colombo, police said.

"We have no official reports of casualties yet," said a police official.

There was no immediate comment from the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who have been fighting since 1983 for a separate minority Tamil state in the country's north and east.

A Norwegian-brokered initiative to bring the two sides to the negotiating is stalled over a rebel demand that the government lift a ban on their organization before talks begin.

The government has rejected the demand, dimming hopes of early talks to end a conflict that has claimed an estimated 64,000 lives.

Reuters contributed to this report.