An American Navy ship, the USS Duluth, carrying more than 100 U.S. Marines arrived Monday off the southern coast of Sri Lanka as part of the U.S. military's relief and rebuilding efforts in tsunami-struck areas. The ship brought three military helicopters and one landing craft, all with capacity to carry large amounts of equipment and personnel. In Sri Lanka, more than 30,000 people were killed and another 800,000 have been displaced. A large amount of earth-moving and engineering equipment will be deployed in relief efforts, according to a U.S. military official who declined to be named. Some 300 Marines are currently on the island and the number is likely to go up 600 in the coming weeks, he said. The ship will be anchored off the coast of Galle for approximately a week before heading to Iraq, he said.
