Sept 11, Colombo: At least 16 Tiger rebels including an LTTE area leader have been killed in the latest rounds of fighting in the embattled northern region of Sri Lanka, the military said today.

Four Tiger rebels including the Kilaly LTTE leader Kaliardhan was killed during a confrontation at Kilaly in Jaffna in the pre-dawn hours of today, defense reports said adding that a large number of Tigers also were wounded during the clash.

Elsewhere in the region five Tigers were killed during confrontations ahead of the frontlines in Vavuniya while a soldier received injuries.

Troops launched an attack on an LTTE Defence Line located in Akkaraynkulam using armoured tanks yesterday killing five Tiger rebels. Seven soldiers also suffered injuries durin the skirmishes.

Two Tigers were killed in confrontations ahead of the Welioya front. Three soldiers were injured in the battles.

Sri Lanka military has stepped up the offensives expecting to capture the rebel heartland of Kilinochchi by December of this year. Defense authorities put the latest number of rebels killed since January at 6,480 and their own losses at 631.

The figures cannot be independently verified as media is not allowed in the conflict areas.