Colombo: At least 19 LTTE militants and three Sri Lankan soldiers were killed in fierce clashes in the country's embattled North, officials said here today.

At least seven militant were killed in Kallikulam area of Vavuniya district in two separate incidents yesterday, the army said.

In Weliola, two militants were killed in Kokkuthuduwai area while another rebel was killed in Kaduththachamalai yesterday, the Defence Ministry said.

Meanwhile, two soldiers were killed in Muhamalai in Jaffna yesterday in two separate confrontations, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.

Separately one soldier was killed in a claymore mine blast in North-western Mannar yesterday, the army said, adding six militants were also killed yesterday in Munkilmurichhan in Mannar.

In Kadduthadammalai in Welioya, one rebel was shot dead by troops yesterday, the army said, while two other LTTE cadres were killed in Navatkulam area in Vavuniya yesterday.

Source : PTI