Twelve Sri Lankan sailors killed in mine blast

Suspected Tamil Tiger rebels triggered two powerful land mines targeting a naval convoy in north-western Sri Lanka today, killing 12 sailors and injuring at least four others.

About 30 sailors were travelling in a bus and a truck toward their base in Mannar district, 135 miles north of the capital, Colombo when the explosion occurred, said navy spokesman Cmdr. Jayantha Perera.

He said the bus caught fire after the blast and the evacuation of casualties was continuing.