Blast derails train in Sri Lanka

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Tamil Tiger rebels in eastern Sri Lanka are suspected of detonating a landmine which derailed a train injuring four people, military officials say.

The incident near Batticaloa happened a day before Japan's peace envoy, Yasushi Akashi, was due to visit the district.

The blast came ahead of the funerals of two Sri Lanka Red Cross volunteers, the latest victims in a string of abductions and disappearances.

Despite an official ceasefire, Sri Lanka has been sliding back to war.

Plagued by attacks

"The blast has damaged the track. The train has gone off the track, but has not toppled," military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe told the AFP news agency.

"It was definitely the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)."

The military says that three passengers and a policeman were injured in the explosion and admitted to hospital.

The Tigers denied they were behind the blast, blaming the breakaway rebel Karuna faction.

"That area is dominated by paramilitary groups," rebel military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan told Reuters news agency. "We have nothing to do with that incident."

Mr Akashi arrived on Tuesday for a five-day visit to try and find ways to revive the peace process.

Correspondents say his visit is important because Japan is one of Sri Lanka's largest donors.

Mr Akashi arrives shortly before the funerals of two Tamil volunteers of the Sri Lanka Red Cross, who were taken away by men claiming to be policemen from a train station in Colombo on Friday.

Their bodies were found dumped outside the capital two days later.