COLOMBO, Nov 18: Lankan naval forces, backed by helicopter gunships, attacked LTTE boats, on Tuesday, killing seven Tigers, military sources said.

According to officials, two boats were sunk in the battles that erupted off the northeast coast, south of the rebel stronghold of Mullaitivu, which is being attacked by the armed forces.

Air strikes targeted a fleet of rebel boats which were fleeing to the shore, defence officials said. Army spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nannayakkara also stated that the military on Tuesday launched airstrikes in other parts of northern rebel controlled territory.

The fresh clashes came a day after government troops said it captured a key rebel town of Mankulam after overrunning the last rebel fortifications on the west coast.

Meanwhile Nannayakkara said battles continued across the northern area of Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi fronts but did not cite casualties.

However, the pro-rebel website Tamil Net said the military targeted the town of Paranthan with an artillery, killing one civilian and wounding six others. Tuesday’s fighting took place in the backdrop of President Mahinda Rajapakse extending the services of the incumbent army chief, Lt Gen. Sarath Fonseka, for a year from Dec 18.