Xinhua
Colombo, July 3 (Xinhua) At least 14 Tamil Tiger rebels have been killed by the government troops in clashes in northern Sri Lanka, the military said Thursday. Around 12 rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were injured in clashes with the military in the northern districts of Vavuniya, Mannar and Welioya, a statement by the military said. It claimed 14 rebels have been killed in these clashes.

A government soldier was killed and eight were wounded in the clashes, the statement said.

At least 9,000 LTTE rebels and 1,700 government soldiers have been killed since the government launched military offensive against the group in 2006, commander of the Sri Lankan army, Sarath Fonseka, said.

The LTTE has been fighting the government troops since the mid-1980s to establish an independent homeland for the island’s minority Tamils.

Since then, more than 70,000 people have been killed in insurgency related violence in the country.
Xinhua