At least 45 dead in Sri Lanka sea battle: navy

WAR.WIRE

At least 45 dead in Sri Lanka sea battle: navy
COLOMBO, May 11 (AFP) May 11, 2006
At least 15 Sri Lankan sailors and 30 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in a fierce sea battle off the island's north, a Sri Lankan navy spokesman told AFP.

Tamil Tiger rebels sank a navy fast attack craft by ramming it with a boat loaded with explosives, spokesman P.D.K. Dassanayake said, adding that the navy vessel was escorting a ship transporting 710 soldiers.

"We lost a Dvora (fast attack craft) and managed to save 'Pearl Cruise II' and the 710 men aboard it," Dassanayake said, adding that at least 15 Sri Lankan sailors and 30 rebels died in the two-and-a-half hour battle.