Colombo (PTI): At least 51 Tamil Tigers and two soldiers were killed in fierce clashes between the rebels and security forces in embattled northern Sri Lanka, officials said on Tuesday.

An unidentified person was also killed in the clashes.

"Military reports received from Northern battlefronts indicate that 17 militants were killed and many others suffered injuries during clashes with Sri Lanka Army on Monday," the Defence Ministry said.

In Vavuniya, troops gunned down 10 LTTE militants in three separate incidents on Monday, it said.

Troops clashed with a group of militants at Palampiddi in Mannar on Monday afternoon, the military said adding LTTE radio transmissions revealed that four LTTE cadres were killed in this incident.

In a similar attack at Chinnavittu in rebel stronghold of Wanni, two rebels were killed in a confrontation, officials said citing overheard LTTE radio transmissions.

Separately four tiger militants were gunned down at Chennamaniattuaru in Wannion Monday evening, they said.

At least three militants were also killed in Janakapura and Kiri Ibbanwawa in Welioya front in North-Eastern Sri Lanka on Monday.