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| Sri Lanka reports battle at sea | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Sri Lankan navy has said it has attacked 25 Tamil Tiger rebel ships off the eastern coast of the country, killing up to 70 separatists. | The Sri Lankan navy has said it has attacked 25 Tamil Tiger rebel ships off the eastern coast of the country, killing up to 70 separatists. |
| The navy said it had sunk at least eight of the ships and two others were burning after the five-hour sea battle. | The navy said it had sunk at least eight of the ships and two others were burning after the five-hour sea battle. |
| Five Sri Lankan sailors were reportedly injured. There was no immediate Tiger confirmation of the clash. | Five Sri Lankan sailors were reportedly injured. There was no immediate Tiger confirmation of the clash. |
| Sri Lanka's 20-year civil war escalated in late July. Hundreds of people have been killed in violence this year. | Sri Lanka's 20-year civil war escalated in late July. Hundreds of people have been killed in violence this year. |
| The sea battle reportedly took place about 80km (50 miles) north of the strategic harbour of Trincomalee. | |
| After intercepting the ships travelling south, Sri Lankan forces said they had attacked the vessels by air, then using sea craft. | |
| "Eleven boats were sunk, and about 70 cadres were killed," police chief Percy Perera said. | |
| He added that he believed a top Tiger naval commander was killed or injured during the clash. | |
| Our correspondent in Colombo, Dumeetha Luthra, says the clash follows a pattern of escalating violence and comes after more than 100 rebels were killed in two sea battles earlier this month. |