Colombo (PTI): At least 71 LTTE cadres were killed in fierce fighting with the security forces in the embattled Northern Sri Lanka, officials said here on Saturday.

As many as 30 rebels were killed in Pandivirichchan in North-west Mannar in intense clashes with troops on Friday, the state-owned Rupavahini Television reported.

The channel said a school used by the LTTE as a training camp in the region had also been captured.

Meanwhile, army sources have confirmed that 10 Tamil Tigers were killed on Friday when security personnel captured a land stretch of 700 metres in the Illanthevan area of Mannar after destroying two LTTE bunkers, officials said.

At least seven militants were killed in clashes with army in Kilaly and Muhamalai on Friday, the defence ministry said.

In a separate incident, as many as three LTTE cadres were shot dead in Nagarkovil in Jaffna region on Friday, it said.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Air Force fighter jets made low diving sorties on Friday destroying an LTTE explosive dump at Udayarkattukulama, East of Iaranamadu tank in the rebel stronghold of Wanni.

The LTTE is yet to reveal losses as pilots have confirmed the target was acquired precisely, the defence ministry said.

In a separate incident of ground fighting, the army killed at least six militants in Mannar and North-east Welioya fronts on Friday, the defense ministry said, adding another five LTTE cadres were gunned down in Vilathikulam in Northern Vavuniya.

Troops recovered a slain Tamil Tiger's body and some arms and ammunitions in general area Kiriibbanwewa in Welioya following a confrontation with the LTTE on Friday afternoon, it said.

At least nine militants were killed in separate encounters in Kadupuvarankulam and northwest of Periyathampane in Vavuniya, the army said.