Colombo: At least 48 LTTE rebels and a soldier were killed in fierce clashes in the restive Northern Sri Lanka, officials said today.

Two Tamil Tigers were killed at Illamarudankulam area in Vavuniya today, the army said. At least 11 rebels were killed in Thachchanamaruthamadu and Chinnavalavankaddu areas of Vavuniya yesterday, the Defence Ministry said.

On the Mannar front, troops attacked LTTE bunkers in the Manipulikulam and Minukkad areas and killed six guerrillas in the confrontations yesterday, the ministry said. In a similar clash in Minukkad and Malikaittidal areas of Mannar, troops gunned down three more LTTE rebels, it said.

One Tamil Tiger and an army personnel were killed in clashes at Kokkutuduvai, janakapura and Kribbanwewa in North-east Welioya yesterday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.

In a separate incident, at least 13 LTTE rebels were killed and three others injured when army troops captured six bunker in various artillery duels at Kanthankulam, Kaddaikulam and Manipulikulam areas of Mannar yesterday, the MCNS said.

At least 12 Tigers were killed and seven others injured in clashes at East of Madhu, Thathchanamarathamadu and Suleinamarathamadu area in Vavuniya district, it said.

Source : PTI