COLOMBO, Sept 14: A group of 10 Tamil Tiger rebels who attempted to attack a northern defence line on Friday were shot dead by government troops after an hour long battle, a military spokesman said.

Two soldiers were wounded in the clashes, the Defence Ministry said.

The fighting comes a day after the LTTE’s financial nerve centre in guerilla controlled north was pounded by the Air Force.

At least 30 guerillas are believed to have been killed since Saturday as the war edged towards the northern guerilla controlled Killinochchi and Mullativu districts.

Separately, the Navy said they had launched a coordinated attack on a rebel flotilla of over boats off the Mullaithivu coast, sinking three vessels crammed with weapons.

Defence authorities also said government troops had captured a key supply point of the LTTE in the northern Mannar district which has been the scene of heavy fighting in the past two months.

The Tamil Tiger rebels in a statement on the pro rebel website, Tamil Net acknowledged that clashes between the armed forces and the LTTE took place but did not offer details.