Colombo - Civilians in Tamil rebel-held areas are risking their lives and to flee fighting in the northern region, state-run television said Tuesday.

On Monday the Navy rescued 139 Tamil civilians including 53 children who were fleeing by boat and took them to a welfare centre run by the government.

In another instance a father and son who escaped by boat told the state run television that they were fired upon by the rebels and the son was hit by a bullet, but still managed to reach the shore, the military said.

Tamil rebels in the Mullaitivu area, 390 kilometres north-east of the capital, were putting up resistance to the army offensive.

Elsewhere, a Tamil rebel suicide bomber dressed in a uniform similar to that of the army blew himself near a military-controlled area Monday, a military spokesman said.

In Monday's fighting at least 14 rebels were killed, the spokesman said.

Government troops have been fighting in the north and eastern parts of the country since August 2006 to recapture vast areas of land held by the rebels and now say they are on the final phase to end the operations.

Concern about civilians have been growing with local and international organizations calling the government and the rebels to ensure the safety of civilians. The government estimates some 65,000 civilians remain in the area. (dpa)