A SUSPECTED TAMIL TIGER BLAST KILLED SIX PEOPLE IN SRI LANKA'S NORTHEAST ON MONDAY AS A TOP INDIAN DIPLOMAT VISITED THE ISLAND TO DISCUSS RISING VIOLENCE THAT MANY FEAR COULD TRIGGER A NEW CIVIL WAR. THE ARMY SAID THE BLAST RIPPED THROUGH A ROAD JUNCTION IN THE NORTHEASTERN PORT TOWN OF TRINCOMALEE, KILLING FIVE SECURITY PERSONNEL AND A CIVILIAN. THEY BLAMED THE LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM (LTTE), WHO WANT AN ETHNIC TAMIL HOMELAND. "IT WAS AN EXPLOSION IN A THREE-WHEELER PARKED BY A ROADBLOCK," SAID ARMY SPOKESMAN BRIGADIER PRASAD SAMARSINGHE. "THE POLICE HAD TRIED TO SEARCH THE THREE WHEELER AND IT WAS DETONATED REMOTELY." ELEVEN PEOPLE WERE INJURED INCLUDING EIGHT CIVILIANS, HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING BY REUTERS. A MINE BLAST IN EASTERN SRI LANKA EARLIER IN THE DAY WOUNDED TWO POLICE SPECIAL TASK FORCE TROOPERS, THE MILITARY SAID. OFFICIALS SAID INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY SHYAM SARAN WAS VISITING THE ISLAND TO MEET PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSE. TOP OF THEIR AGENDA WAS LIKELY TO BE THIS YEAR'S SURGE IN VIOLENCE THAT HAS KILLED MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE. "THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT INDIA'S EXACT POSITION," A SENIOR SRI LANKAN OFFICIAL TOLD REUTERS ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY. "I THINK INDIA COULD BE MUCH MORE CLOSELY INVOLVED IN THE PEACE PROCESS." THE INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION REFUSED TO COMMENT ON THE VISIT.
