Sunday, December 4 2005 16:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: At least six soldiers were killed today (Dec 04, 2005) in a powerful landmine blast in northern Sri Lanka, a military official said.

The soldiers were onboard a tractor trailer when it was hit by a landmine in the northern peninsula of Jaffna, 400 kilometres north of the capital Colombo, the military official said.

It was the highest number of soldiers killed in a single landmine blast since the government and the rebel Tamil Tigers entered into a truce in February 2002.

There had been tension in the Jaffna peninsula after the killing of two Tiger rebels on Friday by unidentified gunmen.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have accused the Sri Lankan military of supporting a breakaway faction. The Sri Lankan military denies the charges.