COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) _ Clashes between Sri Lankan soldiers and Tamil Tiger rebels along the front lines of the country's restive northern jungles killed nine insurgents, the military said Thursday.

Fighting Wednesday in Kovilmadu village in Vavuniya district left three rebels dead, the military said in a statement.

A separate battle minutes later in nearby Mannar district killed six rebels, the statement said. It did not mention military casualties.

Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment. It was not possible to obtain independent accounts on the clashes because journalists have been barred from the battle zone.