COLOMBO - A mine exploded in northern Sri Lanka on Monday, killing five soldiers and two relief workers, the military said, as foreign ambassadors urged Tamil Tiger rebels to seek a peaceful settlement to the countryÂ’s two-decade conflict.The soldiers were moving in a van when the Claymore mine exploded, killing four, military spokesman Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said, adding that two other soldiers were also wounded. One of the wounded later died. Two Sri Lankan relief workers who were in another vehicle coming from the opposite direction were also killed, he said.
Samarasinghe said the attack was carried out by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels. The Tigers are known for using Claymore mines that can be detonated by remote control and which fire hundreds of steel balls propelled by plastic explosives.