COLOMBO, May 1: Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels on Thursday set off a roadside mine in Sri Lanka, killing two police commandos, as violence raged on across the north, the defence ministry said.

The Claymore mine, packed with steel balls, exploded in Kebethigollewa as troops were clearing the road for mines, the military said, adding that troops fired at fleeing guerrillas and shot dead two rebels.

Security forces Thursday launched an attack to capture rebel bunker lines in the northern region of Weli Oya, killing two more guerrillas and wounding 14, a statement said placing government losses at two soldiers dead and two injured.

Troops also shot dead a Tiger rebel in Vavuniya on Thursday, while two soldiers were injured in the clashes, the military said. A similar clash in the same region on Wednesday killed two soldiers, the military said.

The blast came after ground troops backed by Mi-24 helicopter gunships advanced towards rebel defence lines in the northern district of Mannar on Wednesday, killing 53 rebels, according to the military.—AFP