COLOMBO (AFP) -- Thirteen Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in clashes in the island's embattled northeast, Sri Lanka's military said on Saturday, marking the latest violence in the long-running ethnic conflict.

The clashes occurred overnight, the military said in a statement.
In separate fighting near the guerrillas' stronghold in the north of the island, the military said it destroyed a rebel bunker during a 24-hour period that ended early on Saturday but suffered no casualties.
There was no comment on the military's rebel casualty claims by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam who have been fighting for an independent homeland for minority Tamils in the island's north and east since 1972.
But the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said Sri Lankan airforce fighter jets dropped ""several bombs"" late on Friday around guerrilla-controlled areas in the northern peninsula of Jaffna.
Tens of thousands of people have died in the separatist conflict, one of Asia's longest running wars.