Colombo: At least 37 Tamil Tigers and six soldiers were killed in fierce clashes in Sri Lanka's embattled north, where Air Force jets bombed an LTTE base in the rebel stronghold of Wanni, officials here said today.

The fighter jets raided an LTTE gathering point in Thiruwe Aru, one km northwest of Iranamdu Tank in Wanni, the Defence Ministry said, adding the Air Force pilots launched precision attacks at the target.

In ground clashes, at least 12 rebels were gunned down by security forces in Nagarkovil in Jaffna, where 30 bunkers of the Tamil Tigers were also destroyed, the Media Centre for National Security said.

A solider was killed in Pokkaravani area of Vavuniya in a clash with LTTE yesterday while a Tamil Tiger was gunned down when the Army attacked a rebel bunker at Kallikulam in the same region.

Separately, five rebels were killed when troops attacked LTTE bunkers at Umayarathuwarankulam in Vavuniya yesterday, the Defence Ministry said, adding one solider also died in the incident. Another solider lost his life in Umayarasakulam in Vavuniya yesterday, the MCNS said.

In two separate clashes in Umayarasakulam yesterday, nine Tamil Tigers were gunned down, it said, adding in another encounter in the same area six rebels were either killed or injured.

Source : PTI