T V Sriram in Colombo

At least 25 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in clashes with security forces in the embattled northern Sri Lanka [Images], while a soldier was killed in a blast in the region, the army said on Friday.

As many as 10 militants, including a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leader identified as Savithri, were killed at Periyakurittikulam in Vavuniya district on Friday, the defence ministry said in a statement.

While six LTTE rebels were killed in Kudirvittankulam village, two cadres were killed by security forces in Periyapandivirichchan in the district, it said.

As many as seven militants were gunned down by Lanka army in Kallikulam on Friday, the ministry said.

Four soldiers were also injured in the clashes, the Media Centre for National Security said in a statement.

Meanwhile, one soldier was killed in an explosion ahead of the Killali Forward Defence Line in Northern Jaffna on Friday, it said.

In Thoppigala in Eastern Batticaloa district, troops recovered 1,350 hand grenades from Tharavikulam, the MCNS said.

According to a Pro-LTTE website, the rebels claimed they thwarted an attack from the Sri Lankan Armed Forces at Muhamalai in Jaffna peninsula on Saturday morning.