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Sri Lanka 'destroys Tiger boats' | Sri Lanka 'destroys Tiger boats' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Sri Lankan navy says that four Tamil Tiger military boats have been destroyed in a sea battle off the country's north-eastern coast. | The Sri Lankan navy says that four Tamil Tiger military boats have been destroyed in a sea battle off the country's north-eastern coast. |
The navy said one of its vessels was damaged in a blast during the fighting. | The navy said one of its vessels was damaged in a blast during the fighting. |
A pro-rebel website says the Tigers attacked a Sri Lankan convoy and destroyed an navy attack craft. | A pro-rebel website says the Tigers attacked a Sri Lankan convoy and destroyed an navy attack craft. |
Fighting is continuing around the sole remaining rebel stronghold of Mullaitivu as the army presses ahead with its offensive. | Fighting is continuing around the sole remaining rebel stronghold of Mullaitivu as the army presses ahead with its offensive. |
Navy spokesman Captain DKP Dassanayake said that navy patrol vessels attacked a number of rebel boats off Mullaittivu late on Monday. | Navy spokesman Captain DKP Dassanayake said that navy patrol vessels attacked a number of rebel boats off Mullaittivu late on Monday. |
He said the navy sunk rebel boats and a naval boat was damaged when explosives stored in a rebel boat exploded. | He said the navy sunk rebel boats and a naval boat was damaged when explosives stored in a rebel boat exploded. |
But a pro-rebel website quoted the rebels as saying that they had attacked a Sri Lankan convoy and destroyed a navy fast attack craft. | |
The two versions of events could not be independently confirmed. | |
There were no details of any casualties in the incident. | There were no details of any casualties in the incident. |
The sea battle came has come at a time when the government has intensified its offensive against the rebels. | The sea battle came has come at a time when the government has intensified its offensive against the rebels. |
The army says that it is pressing ahead after capturing Kilinochchi - the rebels' administrative centre - and the strategically important Elephant Pass. | The army says that it is pressing ahead after capturing Kilinochchi - the rebels' administrative centre - and the strategically important Elephant Pass. |
The Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for 25 years. At least 70,000 people have been killed in the insurgency. | The Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for 25 years. At least 70,000 people have been killed in the insurgency. |
The rebels had established a de facto state squeezed between government-controlled Jaffna in the north and the rest of the country. | The rebels had established a de facto state squeezed between government-controlled Jaffna in the north and the rest of the country. |
But the latest military offensive has forced the rebels to give up much of their territory. | But the latest military offensive has forced the rebels to give up much of their territory. |