Eight Tiger rebels killed in fighting: Sri Lanka military

Posted 09 2 2008 9:08AM

COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lankan troops killed eight Tamil Tiger rebels during sporadic clashes throughout the embattled north, the defence ministry said Monday.

One soldier was wounded during the confrontations that took place in Kilinochchi and Jaffna on Sunday, the ministry said.

Separately, gunmen shot dead two men in Jaffna on Sunday, the ministry said, blaming the attacks on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The LTTE, who have been fighting for a separate state since 1972, did not comment on the ministry statements.

Sunday's fighting raised the number of rebels killed by troops since January to 6,205, according to government figures. The military admits losing 585 of its soldiers during the same period.

The LTTE is seeking a homeland for minority Tamils from the majority Sinhalese community in the island's north and east. Tens of thousands have died on both sides in over three decades of bloodshed.

Fighting is now concentrated around the north as security forces move into rebel-held territory to dismantle the LTTE's northern stronghold. They ejected the guerrillas from the east of the island in July 2007.