12 killed after Sri Lankan navy sinks Tiger ship

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COLOMBO, OCT 7 (AP): Sri Lanka's navy sank a ship suspected of carrying arms for separatist Tamil Tiger rebels killing at least 12 people aboard Sunday, while nine combatants died in a series of battles, military officials said.
After receiving intelligence about the 70-metre (230 feet) long ship, three navy vessels surveilled the sea over the past six days and engaged it early Sunday, about 1,700 kilometres (850 nautical miles) off the southern coast, navy spokesman Cmdr. D.K.P. Dassanayake said.
"The ship caught fire and sank. There were about 12 to 15 (people on board) and no one survived," Dassanayake said. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan was unavailable for comment Sunday.
Dassnayake said the ship, carrying 3,000 tons of weapons and ammunition, was the seventh rebel vessel sunk while transporting arms this year.
The sinking came a day after eight Tamil Tiger fighters and a government soldier were killed in fighting in Sri Lanka's troubled north.
Soldiers and the separatist rebels fought in Adampan village of northern Vavuniya district Saturday, leaving six guerrillas dead, an official at the Defence Ministry's information centre said. Two other rebels were killed in a separate clash in Vilathikulam village.
Also Saturday, Tamil Tigers killed a soldier when they attacked troops in northeastern Welioya village, the official said on condition of anonymity citing policy.