Mine blast in Sri Lanka: 10 dead

An mine blast killed 10 Sri Lankan soldiers and wounded four others in the island's northern Jaffna Peninsula, the Defense Ministry said. "We now have confirmation that 10 have died and four are wounded," military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said. The soldiers were traveling in a military truck when the Claymore anti-personnel mine was triggered. Another soldier, the driver, was unaccounted for.

The soldiers were on leave and en route to the airport when the mine exploded. Violence has also escalated in Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil-majority north and parts of the east in recent months. At least 33 government soldiers and have died in violence blamed on the rebels since Dec. 4, reports the AP. I.L.