11/04/2006

Britons hurt in Sri Lankan explosion

At least two Britons are believed to have been injured following a mine blast in Sri Lanka, which killed 12 people and injured another eight.

The explosion occurred when a bus carrying Sri Lankan sailors hit a mine near the port of Trincomalee.

The 12 people killed are all believed to be sailors. The Britons who were injured are understood to have been travelling in another vehicle when the blast occurred. According to reports they are believed to come from Norwich.

Government officials have blamed the attack on Tamil Tiger rebels.

Officials have also blamed the rebels for a similar attack in northern Sri Lanka on Monday, which killed seven people.

The blast came ahead of talks, scheduled to take place in Switzerland next week, which are aimed at salvaging a truce, which had been in place since 2002.

More than 60,000 people have been killed in over two decades of conflict in Sri Lanka. The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for autonomy for minority Tamils in the country since 1972.

(KMcA)

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