Israel kills at least 12 Hizbollah fighters

JERUSALEM, July 28 (Reuters) Israel killed at least 12 Hizbollah guerrillas in fighting in the town of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon today, bringing the total number killed in the conflict to more than 200, an Israeli army spokeswoman said.

''(Israeli) forces are still there at the moment,'' the spokeswoman said.

Earlier an Israeli military source had said there had been sporadic clashes between Israeli troops and Hizbollah fighters.

The heaviest losses for the guerrillas were thought to have been in fighting around the south Lebanon towns of Maroun al-Ras and Bint Jbeil, another source said. A total of 33 Israeli soldiers have also died in the 17 days of conflict.

REUTERS SRS BST0055