More government troops, civilians and Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in separate clashes in Sri Lanka's restive east and north as clashes continued, officials said Sunday.

In Kalmunai in the east two cadres of the Police Special Task Force were killed at around 8:55 a.m. local time (0325 GMT) on Sunday when Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels attacked a road patrol.

A civilian was killed when a LTTE fired mortar landed on a house at Ampara district at around 1:20 a.m. local time (1950 GMT).

In the northern Jaffna peninsula's Nagarkovil area, at least four LTTE members were killed when troops retaliated a rebel attack Saturday night.

The clashes erupted as large scale civilian movement from the rebel held areas into government controlled areas continued throughout the week, defense officials said.

Government officials here said that since late January some 42, 000 civilians have fled the Eastern Province's Thoppigala area in the Batticaloa district to escape the latest fighting.

The government troops since Thursday backed by artillery and multi-barrel rocket fire have been on the offensive in Thoppigala, a main jungle hideout for the rebels.

The latest offensive is the biggest since troops captured the town of Vakarai from the Tigers on Jan. 19 after weeks of heavy fighting.

The government has made clear its intention to clear the entire Eastern Province of Tamil Tiger rebels.

Thoppigala remains the last LTTE bastion in Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

More than 4,000 people have been killed in escalating fighting since December 2005, even though the two sides continue to say they observe the Norwegian backed truce signed in February 2002.

Source: Xinhua