Aug 31, Colombo: Clashes between the Sri Lankan troops and the Tamil Tigers killed at least 11 LTTE cadres and three security personnel in the embattled North, the Defence Ministry said today.

Sri Lankan troops in pursuit of the Tamil Tiger rebels encircled at Konketiyawa, East of the Padawiya tank in Welioya, found at least 10 bodies of the rebels scattered in the area, the military said.

Defense Ministry reported that intermittent gunfire exchanged between the Civil Defence Force (CDF) personnel and the LTTE cadres in the area since this morning. Troops further claimed to have sealed all 'way-routes' combined with the Civil Defence Force (CDF) personnel in the area.

Clashes broke out between CDF personnel and LTTE Saturday morning when troops on patrol observed a group of terrorists in Army guise attempting to infiltrate into the area. The Special Forces troops were immediately deployed in the area to reinforce the CDF.

Three security personnel were killed including a Civil Defence Force (CDF) trooper, and a similar number were injured in yesterday's confrontation, the military said.

A civilian was also reported wounded due to the indiscriminate LTTE gunfire and later transferred to the General Hospital at Anuradhapura.

"The LTTE group may have been given specific orders to infiltrate into the liberated areas and cause destruction to both civilian and military targets triggering a slow down of the military advances into the last LTTE bastion in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts," Defence Ministry said.

Police have reportedly killed a Tiger cadre in the general area of Vahalkada and subsequently recovered the body.

Meanwhile the Tigers accused the Army of shelling a village and killing five civilians, including two children Sunday. The rebels said the victims had recently been displaced due to fighting.

Sri Lankan government and humanitarian organizations say Tigers hold displaced civilians as human shields to prevent soldiers advancing into the rebel controlled areas.