Clashes in northern SL kill 13 rebels

At least 13 Tamil Tiger rebels and a soldier have been killed in latest clashes in the embattled northern Sri Lanka, the island's defence ministry said.

At least 13 Tamil Tiger rebels and a soldier were killed in latest clashes in the embattled northern Sri Lanka, the island's defence ministry said on Monday.

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Four LTTE militants were on Sunday killed in fighting with army in Parappukkal area of Vavuniya district while two others were gunned down in the region's Navvi area, it said.

Two rebels were also killed in clashes in Palamoda area, the Media Centre for National Security(MCNS) said.

Army snipers deployed in Kuttimulai area in the region gunned down an LTTE rebelwhile an army soldier was injured in a separate confrontation in Mallavi area.

In a series of encounters in the north-eastern Welioya, at least four militants were shot dead and four others wounded, the army said, adding the clashes took place in north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Ethaweunuwewa and Ranabapura areas on Sunday.

One soldier also died while four others were wounded in the confrontations, the Defence Ministry said.

The army on Sunday handed over 19 bodiesof LTTE cadres, killed in week-end clashes in Vavunikulam area, to the International Red Cross Committee, the MCNS said.

Meanwhile, President of the Tamil United Liberation Front has called on LTTE leader Prabhakaran to order surrender of arms anddeclare a permanent ceasefire with the Sri Lankan Government in the wake of the SAARC summit.

V Anandasangaree also appealed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to solicit support of the Heads of States of the SAARC countries to find a lasting solution to the countrys ethnic problem.

15th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will be held in the Island nation from August 2.