Colombo, April 22 (DPA): At least 17 Tamil rebels have been killed by government troops in three separate incidents in northern Sri Lanka as fighting between the two sides continued, military officials said Tuesday.

The fighting was reported from the Mannar, Vavuniya and Welioya areas, some 260 km north of the capital Monday, officials said.

Nine rebels were killed and eight wounded in a clash in Welioya where a soldier was also injured, while four each were killed in Mannar and Vavuniya, the army said.

Government troops have launched a major military offensive in the northern part of the country and at least 2,500 rebels have been killed in the past four months.

According to the military, 300 police and security personnel were also killed in the offensives.