14 killed in Lankan violence: Army

COLOMBO: At least 14 people including two Home guards and 12 Tiger rebels were killed in clashes between government forces and the LTTE in Sri Lanka's embattled north, the army said here on Friday.
    
LTTE militants detonated a claymore mine killing two Civil Defence Force personnel known as Homeguards at Kambiliweva in the Welioya region of Vavuniya district this morning, defence sources said.
    
The explosion targeted the Homeguards while they were walking on a road, they said. The security forces have launched a search operations in the area.
    
Meanwhile, a LTTE rebel was killed and many others injured in clashes with Government forces at Navatkulam area in Tiger dominated Wanni region, the army said.
    
In another incident in Umayatarthwankulam area in the East, a concentrated counter-artillery fire on an LTTE bunker killed three militants on Thursday, the army said.
    
Four LTTE cadres were killed and four others were injured when troops clashed with them at the Wanni defence lines on Thursday, security sources said.
    
Separately, troops manning Forward Defence Lines at Nawathkuklam in Vavuniya intercepted another group of militants, killing one in a limited gunfire last morning.
    
Security sources said at least three militants were killed in counter attacks following an LTTE launched mortar attack at Umerasakulam in North-Western Mannar last evening.
  
One soldier injured in the attack, they said.