Monday, April 17 2006 20:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: At least eight persons, including five soldiers, were killed in two separate blasts in Sri Lanka today (Apr 17, 2006), a day after Tamil Tiger rebels placed their ceasefire talks on hold.

A claymore landmine exploded at Veppankulam in the district of Vavuniya as an army truck passed by, officials said. Four soldiers were killed on the spot while another died in hospital, officials said.

Seven others escaped with injuries.

Another claymore mine exploded at Meesali in the Jaffna peninsula, further north, killing the man who was carrying it and two others, the military said.

The army said they believed the bomb was being set up to target security forces, but the bomb exploded prematurely killing three people.

Another Claymore aimed at an airforce bus at Sittandy in the district of Batticaloa exploded prematurely, wounding just two airmen, the military said.

They said a grenade was also exploded by suspected Tiger rebels in the adjoining district of Trincomalee, but there were no casualties in that attack.

The violence came after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) yesterday said they were suspending their participation in talks set to take place in Switzerland next week to salvage their troubled truce.

Meanwhile, the government was in hectic talks with peace brokers and diplomats in a bid to try and end the cycle of violence by nudging the guerrillas back to the negotiating table, official sources said.