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Ten missing after S Lanka sinking | Ten missing after S Lanka sinking |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Ten crew from a Sri Lankan patrol boat are missing after their vessel exploded and sank off the island's north-east coast early on Saturday. | Ten crew from a Sri Lankan patrol boat are missing after their vessel exploded and sank off the island's north-east coast early on Saturday. |
The Sri Lankan navy said the boat, carrying 16 crew in all, was thought to have struck a sea mine planted by Tamil Tiger guerrillas. | The Sri Lankan navy said the boat, carrying 16 crew in all, was thought to have struck a sea mine planted by Tamil Tiger guerrillas. |
But the rebels said the vessel had been attacked and destroyed by one of their suicide squads. | |
This is the second naval vessel sunk since a ceasefire ended in January. | This is the second naval vessel sunk since a ceasefire ended in January. |
Rescued | |
The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says two navy fast attack craft, about 25 metres (82ft) long and armed with heavy and light machine guns, were on a routine patrol when one was caught up in an explosion and sank. | |
The incident took place near Nayaru, 300km (185 miles) north of Colombo. | |
Five crewmen and an officer were rescued. | |
A spokesman for the Sri Lankan navy, Lt Commander Rohan Joseph, denied reports on a pro-rebel news website that the patrol had been attacked by the Black Sea Tigers suicide squad. | |
Five seamen were lost in the earlier incident in February. | Five seamen were lost in the earlier incident in February. |
In January the government pulled out of a formal commitment to a 2002 ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers, arguing the rebels had used it to re-group and re-arm. | In January the government pulled out of a formal commitment to a 2002 ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers, arguing the rebels had used it to re-group and re-arm. |
Since then, fighting has intensified on the frontlines that surround Tiger-held territory in the north. | Since then, fighting has intensified on the frontlines that surround Tiger-held territory in the north. |
The Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983. More than 70,000 people have been killed since then. | The Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983. More than 70,000 people have been killed since then. |
They say that ethnic minority Tamils have been marginalised for decades by governments dominated by the Sinhalese majority. | They say that ethnic minority Tamils have been marginalised for decades by governments dominated by the Sinhalese majority. |
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