Over 52 militants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been killed in gunbattles between security forces and the rebels in Sri Lanka's [Images] embattled north, where the Army captured a portion of the rebel-held Thampane area.

Elsewhere, two civilians also lost their lives in attacks by suspected Tiger rebels, the army said on Tuesday.

"We moved in about one km inside Thampane on Monday night and one of the camps which was taken control of could accommodate 300 LTTE militants," a ministry spokesman said.

In two other areas of Thampane, the troops moved in about 300 metres and 500 metres respectively, the spokesman said, adding this was the fourth major success for the Army during the last few days.

Last week, the Army said it had captured a key LTTE post named Vitenam Base, hours after taking control of two defence lines in the region.

Delayed reports today said that during the capture of Uyilanakulam LTTE entry-exit point on Saturday, at least 22 militants were killed, the army said.

"This information has been confirmed through intercepted LTTE communication", it said.

Five rebels were killed today when troops confronted a group of Tiger militants in Vilatikulam in Northern Vavuniya.

In Kallikulam, troops confronted a group of Tigers and killed three rebels, the Media Centre for National Security said.

Two soldiers sustained injuries in a mine explosion in Periyathampanai in Vavuniya this evening, it said.

Two civilians were shot dead by unidentified gunmen near the sluice gate at Ragendrakulamtam tank in Vavuniya yesterday.

A LTTE local leader was killed in Vinayagapuram in Eastern Ampara on Monday, the MCNS said.

Two rebels were killed in a confrontation with Army troops at Kandaperiiyakulam in Mannar on Monday.

Five militants were killed in three separate incidents --- Pokkaravani, Paripittanmodai and Narikkulam�in Vavuniya-Mannar border on Monday, the Defence Ministry said.

Ten LTTE rebels, including two regional leaders of the outfit, were killed on Monday in confrontations with troops at Kandaperumakulama, Pokkaravani and Navatkulama areas in Vavunia, it said.

In Mannar region, security forces attacked a bunker manned by the LTTE in the south of Adampan area, killing two LTTE cadres on Monday, the ministry said.

In another incident, troops destroyed two bunkers in Kilaly and Nagarkovil in Jaffna, killing two Tiger cadres, it added.

The pro-rebel Tamilnet website, meanwhile, claimed that a Sri Lankan soldier was killed and 28 troops injured in three separate clashes in Mannar on Sunday.

"According to reports received from Mannar operations, no casualties among LTTE cadres were reported," it said.