Colombo - At least 16 civilians, including six children, were killed in roadside claymore mine blast in a rebel-controlled area in northern Sri Lanka, Tamil rebels said Friday.
The blast went off when a van was passing Murikandy, 310 kilometres north of the capital, on Friday afternoon. It came as the funeral of a senior rebel member, who died of a heart attack on Tuesday, was taking place in the region.
Rebels said that the van was carrying civilians in the absence of a proper bus service in the area.
The rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) blamed the army's deep penetration unit - a unit of the army which infiltrates rebel-controlled areas and carries out attacks.
Colombo - A journalist working for a private radio and television station
Colom
