By Xinhua
Colombo : Six Tamil Tiger rebels and two policemen were killed Monday in northern Sri Lanka in fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels, defence officials said.
Officials from the Media Centre for National Security said that two police officers were killed when a police motorcycle was caught in a mine explosion triggered by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels in Vavuniya district.
Six LTTE rebels were killed by troops in Muhamalai area of the Jaffna peninsula in two attacks.
In Mannar district, a police officer was injured in a mine explosion while conducting route clearing.
Intense fighting is continuing in the north as the government is determined to defeat the LTTE before the end of this year.
The military has said that more than 700 people have been killed in the fighting since the beginning of this year.
The LTTE has been fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east for more than two decades.