DHAKA, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. navy's cyclone relief operation in Bangladesh may take two weeks or more, a U.S. general said on Sunday.

"The relief operation is a coordinated effort with Bangladesh government and the military and we will remain here as long as there is a need," Brigadier-General Ronald L. Bailey of the U.S. Marines told reporters.

He said that traditionally an operation such as this would take about two weeks, adding that it had been called "Operation Sea Angel Two".

American navy ship USS Kearsarge carrying nearly 20 helicopters arrived in Bangladesh on Nov. 23, a week after the Cyclone Sidr struck the country coasts, killing around 3,500 people and leaving a trail of devastation.

It was the strongest storm to hit the south Asian country since 1991 when a cyclone killed around 143,000 Bangladeshis.

Bailey said USS Kearsarge would soon be replaced by USS Tarawa which would arrive in two or three days. (Reporting by Masud Karim, Writing by Anis Ahmed; editing by Elizabeth Piper)

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