COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, November 17, SPA -- Sri Lankan soldiers clashed with separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in a series of battles across the country's embattled north, killing 18 guerrillas, the military said Saturday. Army troops infiltrated a rebel-held area in northernJaffna peninsula and destroyed two bunkers Saturdaymorning, killing five Tamil tigers, an official at thedefense ministry's information center said on condition ofanonymity, citing government policy. He said the soldiers did not suffer any casualties. The military's claim could not be independently verifiedand Tamil Tiger spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not bereached immediately for comment, the Associated Press reported. Meanwhile on Friday, soldiers fired artillery and mortarrounds at a farm-type tractor carrying rebels across adefense line in the village of Kilali in Jaffna and killedeight of the guerrillas, the official said. Both the Tigers and the army often use farm-type tractorsto tow trailers hauling fighters in battle front areas. Three more rebels were killed in separate clashes inVavuniya district south of Kilali, the official said. Inthe neighboring Welioya region, soldiers fired artilleryand mortar rounds at a group of rebels, killing two.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/500536