July 13, Colombo: Sri Lankan army commandos captured two LTTE bunkers in the embattled northern region today while advancing troops killed 22 Tamil Tigers in heavy confrontations, the military said.

Defence sources said that two Tamil Tiger bunkers located in the Palaiveddnmoddai area, 7 km East of Vidattaltivu in Mannar have been captured by the Army elite troops this morning. According to the sources, in an attacked launched around 11.30 am the commandos have taken hold of the bunkers killing at least 7 LTTE cadres.

The soldiers have observed remains of 7 slain Tamil Tigers and recovered five bodies of the same to be handed over to the ICRC, the sources further said.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the region 15 Tigers and a soldier were killed in confrontations between the troops and the LTTE Tigers.

Heavy fighting in Welioya area on Saturday (12) killed five Tigers and injured another 16 while troops confronted Tiger rebels at several locations in Vavuniya killing seven Tigers and destroying a bunker. A soldier was also killed in the confrontations.

In Mannar, troops killed two Tigers and seized a boat with a motor and fuel, defense reports said.

Independent verification of casualty figures is not possible as the media is restricted in the conflict areas in North.