COLOMBO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A senior Tamil Tiger rebels' leader died in fighting between government troops and the rebels in the northeastern area of Sri Lanka on Thursday, military officials said Friday.

    The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ground commander named Shankar was killed in the heavy fighting commenced around 7:30 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) and lasted till 5:30 p.m. (1200 GMT),the military said.

A soldier rides his bicycle near Dharmapuran, about 12 km (7.4 miles) west of the current fighting front line Feb. 22, 2009. Dharmapuran was captured about a month ago by the Sri Lanka army after fights with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).(Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Shankar had led the rebel defense of Purthukudyiruppu, the last LTTE hold of less than 60 sq km.

    At least 12 more rebels were killed while 30 more were injured in the fighting, the military said.

    But the military did not mention the casualties of the troops.

    Meanwhile, a pro-rebel website said a Sri Lanka Air Force bomber was shot down in Mullaittivu on Friday at 11:25 a.m. local time (0555 GMT), but the military denied the claim.

    Sri Lankan troops are on the look out for Velupillai Prabakaran, the reclusive Tamil Tiger leader who had led the over three decade old fight in the north and east.

    Prabakaran, 54, is still believed to be in Purthukudyiruppu waiting to flee the area in the face of a rapid military advance.

    The rebels have lost one stronghold after another to the advancing military who are on throes of completely crushing the LTTE's fighting capability.

    The LTTE sought to set up a separate homeland for the minority Tamil community in the north and east claiming discrimination at the hands of the Sinhalese majority ruling community.

    More than 70,000 people have been killed in Asia's longest civil war since the LTTE launched their armed campaign in the mid-1980s.