18 SRILANKANS DIE IN SCHOOLBUS

18 SRI LANKANS HAVE DIED IN A SCHOOL BUS, 11 OF WHICH WERE CHILDREN, THEY DIED BECAUSE THEY HIT AN EXPLOSIVE MINE.
THE BUS WAS TRAVELLING AROUND MANNAR A NORTH-WESTERN TOWN IN SRI LANKA
PEOPLE SAY THE ARMY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK BUT THEY DENY THE CHARGES.
The head of the TAMILS secretariat, S Pulithevan, SAYS that the children were returning from a sports meeting.
He said that seven adults, including teachers, were among the dead and blamed the Sri Lankan military for planting a roadside bomb.

THE AREA IS CONTROLLED BY A GROUP WHO CALL THEMSELVES THE TAMIL TIGERS. THEY WANT AN INDEPENDENT STATE AROUND THE NORTH AND EAST OF SRI LANKA BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY ARE BEING TREATED UNFAIRLY.
THE TWO SIDES decided TO A CEASEFIRE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BUT THE SRI LANKAN ARMY PULLED OUT THE AGREEMENT LAST MONTH
The military is hoping to wipe out the Tigers by the end of this year.