Sri Lanka rebels blow up selves, 8 sailors missing

COLOMBO, March 25 (Reuters) - Eight Sri Lankan navy sailors were missing at sea on Saturday after suspected Tamil Tiger rebels blew up their own trawler off Sri Lanka's west coast and damaged an approaching navy vessel, the military said.

Eleven navy sailors escaped the blast but search teams were still scouring for eight members of the crew, military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said.

Six suspected rebels on the trawler, believed to be transporting arms, died instantly, he added.