WHEN eight British soldiers were arrested by the gardaí in the middle of the night in May 1976, it was one of the most embarrassing diplomatic incidents of the Troubles.

Sri Lanka’s navy and ethnic Tamil rebels engaged in a high-sea gun battle that lasted until dawn today, the military said, claiming to have sunk 12 rebel boats, including five suicide craft, and killing about 80 rebels.

Sri Lanka’s military said it sank five Tamil Tiger rebel boats today in retaliation for the sinking of a navy vessel which European ceasefire monitors said may have taken the nation a step closer to civil war.

Tamil Tiger rebels have claimed responsibility for an attack on a fuel-laden ship that left seven people dead and raised questions about Sri Lanka's maritime safety.