Colombo (PTI): At least 69 Tamil Tigers and 11 soldiers were killed in fierce clashes between the LTTE and security forces in the embattled northern Sri Lanka, the army said here on Monday.

Meanwhile, the pro-LTTE website Tamilnet quoting the Tamil Tigers said 11 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed during clashes in Palaikuli in north-western Mannar on Sunday. It said 23 Lankan soldiers also suffered injuries during the fight that lasted more than five hours. In fierce clashes at Janakpura in north-eastern Welioya, troops on Monday killed seven militants, the Sri Lankan Army said in a statement. "On the Mannar battlefront, in the Wanni Theater of battle, heavy clashes continued from morning to noon in the Parayanakulam area on Sunday as troops ran at LTTE bunkers and trench defences," the Defence Ministry said.

"Ground troops have confirmed that at least 30 militants were killed and 15 others were either killed or wounded in four separate incidents," it said, adding six soldiers also lost their lives in the clash. At least six militants were killed in three separate clashes in north-eastern Welioya on Sunday, the ministry said.