Colombo: At least 12 Tamil Tiger guerrillas were killed and 30 of their bunkers destroyed by government troops in Sri Lanka's northern Jaffna peninsula Wednesday morning.

The army said troops with the assistance of T-55 battle tanks stormed rebel positions at Nagarkovil at about 5.30 a.m., razing the bunkers and killing the Tigers and injuring many more.

Five soldiers were injured in the battles. Also, air force jets raided a hideout of leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Iranamadu area in Kilinochchi district also in the north at about 8.30 a.m.

Intensive military conflicts are underway in the north, with the government determined to defeat the LTTE before the end of this year.

The military said more than 700 people have been killed in the escalating conflict since the beginning of this year. The LTTE has been fighting for a separate homeland for Tamils in the north and east for more than two decades, leaving more than 70,000 people dead.

Source : IANS