Sri Lanka navy says kills 20 rebels in sea battle

COLOMBO, Oct 20 (Reuters) The Sri Lankan navy killed at least 20 Tamil Tiger rebels today in an ongoing sea battle in the northern Jaffna region, a navy spokesman said.

''There is a sea battle. There were 12 LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) boats including three suicide boats,'' Commander D K P Dassanayake told Reuters.

''We managed to destroy two boats. The fighting is going on and we are chasing them.'' The latest clash comes ahead of peace talks between the rebels and the government on October 28-29.

REUTERS AB BST2037