Colombo, March 4: The Sri Lankan Army said Tuesday troops captured six Tamil Tiger positions and killed 12 rebels in the north.

Officials of the defence ministry said the troops launched an attack against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels and captured five positions at Munkilmurichchan in Mannar district around 4:00 a.m. (2230 GMT). Twelve rebels were believed killed and many wounded, they said.

Bodies of three LTTE rebels were recovered during search operations. One soldier was killed during the confrontation, officials said.

Also in Mannar, the troops captured an LTTE position south of Karukkakulama area at around 6:00 a.m. (0030 GMT).

Government troops and the LTTE are engaged in fighting in the north after the eastern province was recaptured by the troops in July last year.

The LTTE has been fighting since the mid-1980s for a separate homeland for the Tamil minority in the north and east of the island.