Sri Lanka Ship Sunk on Election Day

The navy said a 65-metre (213-ft) ship was hit by an underwater blast caused by a suicide diver, though no other casualties were reported. Rebels said the ship had been loaded with munitions destined for Sri Lankan troops operating in the north. Voting has now closed in Saturday's local elections, the first in the region in 20 years. The polls follow a government offensive last summer. Troops drove the Tamil Tigers from their bases in the region, which they had controlled for 13 years. Thousands of extra troops and police have been deployed to ensure security for the elections in the east coast towns of Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara.