At least eight persons, including four LTTE cadres, two activists of the Karuna faction and one soldier, were reported killed in the North and the East in the last 24 hours.

As per the military, the LTTE cadres — "continuing their killing spree" against dissident Tamil political parties — murdered two more Tamil youths and injured two in the Ampara and Batticaloa districts on Saturday.

The victims have been identified as strong supporters of the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), break-away Tiger faction led by Karuna.

The Defence Ministry said two LTTE motorbike riding assassins had shot at three Tamil youth in Akkaraipattuwa.

The military said three LTTE cadres were killed and many were injured in two separate confrontations in Vavuniya on Saturday.

It said security forces had launched an attack on a group of LTTE cadres killing two of them.

A soldier died and eight were injured in the confrontation.