20 LTTE men killed in Lanka sea battle

COLOMBO: - Sri Lankan Navy killed at least 20 Tamil Tiger rebels on Friday in a sea battle in the Jaffna region, a navy spokesman said, as the United States asked both sides to reverse the negative momentum of more violence.

"There was a sea battle. We managed to destroy two boats and we have chased the others away," Commander D.K.P. Dassanayake said.

 A military statement said there were 15 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE ) boats involved. LTTE leaders were not immediately available for comment.

The latest clash comes ahead of peace talks between the rebels and the government on Oct. 28-29.   

Peace envoys are pushing both sides to stay the course for the planned talks but a surge in violence risks undermining the meeting in Geneva.   

The military said the navy fast-attack vessels intercepted the rebel craft off the Nagarakovil area on the Jaffna peninsula in the north. A statement said two rebel boats were destroyed and others damaged.   

It added many rebels were wounded and two sailors suffered minor injuries. Army positions on the coast fired shells to prevent any rebel vessels from reaching land.   

Scores of people have been killed in the past few weeks in the island nation in fresh fighting that has left a 2002 truce in shreds and dimmed hopes of a breakthrough in Geneva, the first such dialogue since February.