Landmine blast kills 11 soldiers in Sri Lanka

A landmine explosion has killed 11 soldiers and wounded five others in northern Sri Lanka.

The blast in the Jaffna peninsula comes a day after the Government said it had seized control of 90% of the northern region where Tamil Tiger rebels are based.

A few hours before the explosion the Government had urged the guerrillas to resume peace talks that were halted six years ago.

But the Government rejected the militants' unilateral ceasefire, which was extended yesterday for another month. The Government called it a ploy to regroup and rearm.

The explosion in Muhamalai, 18 miles southeast of Jaffna city, killed soldiers on a reconnaissance operation and was suspected to have been set up by the rebels, said military spokesman Brig Sanath Karunaratne.