Fifteen Tamil Tiger rebels and one soldier have been killed in fresh clashes across Sri Lanka's tense northern front, the defence ministry said yesterday. The military said it smashed rebel bunkers as it pushed deeper into Tiger-controlled areas in Vavuniya, Weli Oya and Mullaittivu on Tuesday. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) did not comment on the ministry's statement.Tuesday's fighting raised the number of rebels killed by troops to 5,786 since January, while 529 soldiers have died in combat during the same period, according to ministry figures.