SLanka navy kills 6 rebels in new sea battle

Colombo, Oct 21: The Sri Lankan navy destroyed two Tamil Tiger boats today off an island in the country's restive north, killing six rebels, a naval spokesman said, the second military engagement at sea in less than 24 hours.

Yesterday, the navy destroyed seven Tamil Tiger craft in a major sea battle, killing at least 35 rebels off the northern Jaffna peninsula.

The latest clash took place near the government-controlled Kytes island off the Tamil-dominated peninsula after navy patrol boats spotted rebel craft approaching the island.

''All six LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) members on board were killed,'' Commander DKP Dassanayake told Reuters.

Sri Lanka has seen a surge in violence in the past few months, raising doubts about the success of peace talks between the government and the LTTE in Geneva on October 28-29.

Yesterday's clash saw rebels and government forces fight for hours off the coast of the Jaffna peninsula. Two sailors were wounded in the fight.

Pro-rebel Web site www.tamilnet.com said the LTTE denied suffering casualties and that rebel boats had damaged two navy attack boats. It said the rebels were attacked first by the navy.

Rebel leaders, who are fighting for an independent homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority in the north and east, were not available for comment.

On Wednesday, the rebels launched a sea-borne suicide raid on a naval base in the southern city of Galle, losing 15 fighters and killing one sailor.

PEACE CALL

President Rajapakse used the Hindu festival of Deepavali -- which signifies victory of good over evil and is being celebrated today, to appeal for peace, ahead of the talks.

''Celebrating Deepavali, let us resolve to enhance our endeavours to bring lasting peace to our land so that people of all communities and faiths could live in happiness and dignity,'' Rajapakse said in a statement.

Most Tamils, who make up 18 per cent of the population of largely Buddhist Sri Lanka's population, are Hindus.

''Today our society is plagued by violence and hatred between communities, and tolerance so characteristic of Hinduism and other great religions has given way to animosity and conflict,'' the president said.

Foreign powers have also urged both sides to stand down.

''In the end, people have to understand that the only real solution to their grievances is going to be a political one,'' US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher told a news conference in Colombo late yesterday.

Since July violence has soared and about 1,000 people have died, including many soldiers. A 2002 truce now exists on paper.

More than 65,000 people have been killed in the two-decade conflict, fuelled by complaints of discrimination by the state and sections of Sinhalese majority from members of the Tamil minority.

Sri Lankan media said the recent violence should not sway either side from pushing for successful talks in Geneva.

''It is futile to expect these talks to produce any spectacular breakthrough,'' the Daily Mirror said in an editorial. ''But if they at least agree to resolve some of the problems currently affecting the people and build up confidence between the parties, it would constitute a step forward.''

REUTERS

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