At least 39 combatants from the government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels have been killed in fighting throughout Sunday, defense officials said on Monday in Colombo.

Some 22 rebels and two soldiers were killed in several clashes in the northern Vavuniya district while five LTTE rebels were killed in Welioya district.

Four LTTE members were killed in Mannar and Jaffna districts while another LTTE cadre was killed in eastern district of Batticaloa. A soldier was killed in the northern Jaffna peninsula clashes.

Armed conflicts erupt often between the government troops and the rebels in the northeastern regions as the government on January 16 announced its withdrawal from the Norwegian backed cease-fire.

The six-year-old cease-fire was part of the internationally backed peace process during which nine rounds of talks were held between September 2002 and October 2006.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2008)