67 rebels, three soldiers killed in Lanka clashes

COLOMBO: At least 67 Tamil Tigers and three soldiers were killed in fierce clashes in Sri Lanka's embattled northern region, officials here said on Thursday.
    
Thirty LTTE cadres were killed by security forces in the north of Parappakandal in Mannar on Wednesday, the Defence Ministry said.
    
According to Wanni military sources, Sri Lankan troops "successfully counter attacked an LTTE offensive movement towards the newly consolidated defences at Parappakanda," it said in a statement.
    
Five soldiers also sustained injuries in the confrontation, military sources said.
    
Separately, at least 13 rebels were killed in clashes in the west of Parapakandal and north of Pallaikuli in Mannar on Wednesday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.
    
Two soldiers also lost their lives in the confrontations, it said.
    
In Janakapura in northeastern Welioya, at least ten Tiger cadres were gunned down by troops on Wednesday, the army said, adding one soldier also died in the incident.
    
In another incident, eight rebels were killed and three wounded in an attack by the security forces in the north of Villathikulam in Vavuniya on Wednesday, the army said.
    
Also, intense clashes between army and the rebels at Kallikulam in Vavuniya left six LTTE cadres dead yesterday, the Defence Ministry, said adding "the enemy transmissions confirmed their losses with several more militants either wounded or killed."