SRI LANKA ? Sri Lanka’s navy destroyed two Tamil rebel boats Friday, killing at least 20 insurgents, after the guerrillas launched an attack that triggered a fierce gunbattle in the volatile north, the military said.

A U.S. envoy, meanwhile, urged an end to fighting and a resumption of peace talks.

Navy patrol boats intercepted about 15 rebel boats off the village of Nagarkovil on the Jaffna Peninsula, setting off a battle that lasted about 90 minutes, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on condition of anonymity in line with policy.