TMCnet News
Trawler explodes off Sri Lanka coast, gunrunning suspected+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)COLOMBO, Feb. 11_(Kyodo) _ A fishing trawler exploded at sea off Sri Lanka's northeastern Mannar coast on Saturday when approached by navy vessels for inspection, Sri Lankan navy sources said. "The boat exploded as two naval fast-attack craft approached it for inspection," a senior naval officer said. "There had been no offensive action on either side." "All on board are presumed dead," he said, adding that he had no information on how many there were. The naval vessels patrolling the area had approached the trawler due to its suspicious movements, said the officer, who requested anonymity. The Tamil Tiger rebels have previously exploded gunrunning boats to prevent detection. Earlier this year, the navy detected an Indian trawler carrying 65,000 detonators for delivery to the rebels. Diplomats expressed concern about the incident ahead of talks slated for Feb. 22 in Geneva between the Sri Lanka government and the rebels to discuss their February 2002 Cease-Fire Agreement. It would be the first meeting between the two sides since April 2003. |