Three soldiers killed in Sri Lanka as peace envoy arrives
The incident has been blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels and comes as the Norwegian peace mediator arrives in Colombo.
Colombo (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Three Sri Lankan soldiers have been killed in a mine attack in the eastern district of Batticaloa. The blast went off as troops were sweeping for mines on a main highway.
The incident has been blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels, and comes as the Norwegian peace mediator, Erik Solheim, arrives in Colombo. Mr Solheim is trying to revive a 2002 ceasefire that has been threatened by recent violence, which has killed 149 people since December.
Proposed talks between Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tigers have been held up over a dispute on a venue. The rebel group has been calling for the negotiations to beheld in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, while Colombo has backed an Asian capital.
The Tamil Tigers want a separate state in the north and east of Sri Lanka. More than 60,000 people died during two decades of conflict with Sri Lanka's security forces.
Government spokesman, Nimal Siripala de Silva, says he is hopeful Mr Solheim will be able to get the two parties together for a meeting. Mr Solheim is due to leave the island on Thursday.
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