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| Sri Lanka bus bombing injures 18 | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 18 people have been injured in a bomb attack on a bus in the outskirts of the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, military officials say. | |
| The blast, which was blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels, occurred at a bus stop in the southern suburb of Mount Lavinia. | The blast, which was blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels, occurred at a bus stop in the southern suburb of Mount Lavinia. |
| Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said the crew had begun to evacuate passengers after a woman spotted a suspicious parcel. | Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said the crew had begun to evacuate passengers after a woman spotted a suspicious parcel. |
| There have been a series of blasts targeting buses since the government pulled out of ceasefire last month. | There have been a series of blasts targeting buses since the government pulled out of ceasefire last month. |
| Fighting has also been taking place on the front lines that surround territory the rebels control in the north of the island. | Fighting has also been taking place on the front lines that surround territory the rebels control in the north of the island. |
| The government says the military has killed more than 1,000 rebel fighters in daily battles since the ceasefire ended, while 83 soldiers and police have died. | The government says the military has killed more than 1,000 rebel fighters in daily battles since the ceasefire ended, while 83 soldiers and police have died. |
| Last week, the International Red Cross said the number of civilians killed or wounded ended had reached "appalling levels", with 180 killed so far this year. | Last week, the International Red Cross said the number of civilians killed or wounded ended had reached "appalling levels", with 180 killed so far this year. |
| Vigilance | Vigilance |
| The bus attacked on Saturday had been travelling through Mount Lavinia when an elderly woman passenger spotted a suspicious package and raised the alarm. | The bus attacked on Saturday had been travelling through Mount Lavinia when an elderly woman passenger spotted a suspicious package and raised the alarm. |
| She alerted the driver and conductor, who quickly began to evacuate the passengers. | She alerted the driver and conductor, who quickly began to evacuate the passengers. |
| They got everyone off the bus, and then the driver moved the bus 10-15m away from the bus stop Brig Udaya Nanayakkara | They got everyone off the bus, and then the driver moved the bus 10-15m away from the bus stop Brig Udaya Nanayakkara |
| Soon afterwards there was a large explosion which severely damaged the bus. | Soon afterwards there was a large explosion which severely damaged the bus. |
| Brig Nanayakkara said the woman's vigilance had saved many lives. | Brig Nanayakkara said the woman's vigilance had saved many lives. |
| "They got everyone off the bus, and then the driver moved the bus 10-15m away from the bus stop," he told the Reuters news agency. | "They got everyone off the bus, and then the driver moved the bus 10-15m away from the bus stop," he told the Reuters news agency. |
| "They should be commended. No-one was killed." | "They should be commended. No-one was killed." |
| No-one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Brig Nanayakkara blamed the Tamil Tigers. | No-one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Brig Nanayakkara blamed the Tamil Tigers. |
| The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been fighting since 1983 for an independent homeland for Tamils, who they say have been discriminated against by successive Sri Lankan governments. | The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been fighting since 1983 for an independent homeland for Tamils, who they say have been discriminated against by successive Sri Lankan governments. |
| Correspondents say that fighting between the two sides since then has killed more than 70,000 people. | Correspondents say that fighting between the two sides since then has killed more than 70,000 people. |