Tamil Tiger rebels on Tuesday killed at least 10 Sri Lankan soldiers and wounded another four in a fresh landmine attack in the troubled northern peninsula of Jaffna, defence officials said.

A convoy that was transporting lunch was hit by a Claymore mine at Puloly, the officials said.

As many as 18 soldiers were killed in Puloly in two similar attacks early in December.

At least 15 sailors were killed in another ambush in the north-western district of Mannar.

The latest killings came as the island's northern and eastern regions were gripped by a work stoppage to protest the Christmas day assassination of Tamil legislator, Joseph Pararajasingham.

The government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have blamed each other for the killing of the 71-year-old leader.

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