Mine blast kills 12 Sri Lankan sailors

At least 12 Sri Lankan navy sailors were killed and eight wounded when their bus was hit by a mine blast in north-eastern Sri Lanka today.

The bus was carrying soldiers from the port town of Trincomalee to Colombo, said a navy official.

Staff at the Defence Ministry confirmed the blast, but said it was checking on details.

The blast occurred as a top ceasefire monitor was meeting Tamil Tiger leaders in northern Sri Lanka to discuss an anti-personnel mine blast yesterday that killed five soldiers and two civilian relief workers.