COLOMBO, Aug 13, 2007 (AFP) - Four people were killed as Sri Lankan troops launched ground, air and sea attacks against Tamil Tiger rebels in the island's northeast, the defence ministry said Monday.

Three Tamil Tiger rebels and a soldier were killed in overnight clashes in Pulmodai, the ministry said.

Naval troops patrolling the shores off the northeastern district of Trincomalee intercepted a group of Sea Tiger boats moving toward the Pulmodai and sank one of them early Monday, it said.

The ministry added that "several" Sea Tiger boats were damaged in the confrontation and three government navy sailors were wounded.

The pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said three Sri Lankan gunboats also were damaged in the skirmish.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka warplanes pounded a rebel gun position and a training camp in Nedunkerni early Monday.

The Tamil Tigers are fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in Sinhalese-majority Sri Lanka. The ethnic conflict has claimed more than 60,000 lives since 1972.

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