Over 67 Tamil Tigers and three soldiers were killed in fierce clashes in Sri Lanka's [Images] embattled northern region, officials said in Colombo 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."

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 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 Thursday, the army said, adding that one soldier also died in the encounter.

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 Thursday, the army said.
 
Also, intense clashes between the army and the rebels at Kallikulam in Vavuniya left six LTTE cadres dead on Thursday, the Defence Ministry said, adding, "The enemy transmissions confirmed their losses with several more militants either wounded or killed."