Plankowner
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Location: Upper lefthand corner of the map. | Subject: Sea battle claims heavy casualties in Sri Lanka
Sea battle claims heavy casualties in Sri Lanka
4 hours ago 11/01/2008
COLOMBO (AFP) — Sri Lanka's navy and Tamil Tiger rebels fought a fierce sea battle off the island's northern coast, the two said on Saturday.
Sri Lanka's defence ministry said its warships sank at least four rebel boats and killed at least 14 guerrillas while the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said they destroyed a navy fast attack craft and a hovercraft.
"Four LTTE attack craft were destroyed, 14 terrorists killed and as many others reported injured in a fierce sea battle that erupted between naval craft and Sea Tigers," the ministry said in a statement.
It said at least five senior Tiger members were among those killed.
The Tigers, in remarks published in the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website, said 20 of their attack craft took part in the battle and that they lost seven of their suicide attackers.
The Tigers said the navy was forced to withdraw from the area after the attack.
Eleven days ago, the guerrillas deployed suicide craft and rammed two merchant vessels transporting supplies to the Jaffna peninsula.
The latest sea battle came as Tigers were defending their main northern political capital of Kilinochchi against a ground offensive by security forces.
Security forces took control of a two-kilometre (1.25-mile) rebel bunker line north of Kilinochchi on Saturday amidst heavy fire, the military said.
It said soldiers recovered 15 rebel bodies, but it was unclear if the fighters had died in Saturday's clashes.
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