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| Bomb rocks busy Sri Lankan train | Bomb rocks busy Sri Lankan train |
| (3 days later) | |
| At least eight people have been killed and more than 70 injured in a bombing during rush hour on a packed Sri Lankan commuter train, the military says. | At least eight people have been killed and more than 70 injured in a bombing during rush hour on a packed Sri Lankan commuter train, the military says. |
| The blast hit the Colombo-Panadura train in Dehiwala station, in a suburb of the capital, Colombo. | The blast hit the Colombo-Panadura train in Dehiwala station, in a suburb of the capital, Colombo. |
| Many of the dead were women, including one who was pregnant. | Many of the dead were women, including one who was pregnant. |
| Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara blamed Tamil Tiger separatists for the attack, the latest in a string targeting public transport. | Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara blamed Tamil Tiger separatists for the attack, the latest in a string targeting public transport. |
| The military says it defused two bombs found on buses over the weekend. | The military says it defused two bombs found on buses over the weekend. |
| Tamil Tiger separatists are regularly blamed for attacks, although they routinely deny involvement in bombings in the country. | Tamil Tiger separatists are regularly blamed for attacks, although they routinely deny involvement in bombings in the country. |
| Monday's blast comes three days after the rebels blamed government forces for an explosion which killed a group of people in Tiger-controlled territory. | Monday's blast comes three days after the rebels blamed government forces for an explosion which killed a group of people in Tiger-controlled territory. |
| Toll 'could rise' | Toll 'could rise' |
| The army said Monday's explosion occurred at 1650 local time (1120 GMT). | The army said Monday's explosion occurred at 1650 local time (1120 GMT). |
| Bodies were pulled from the wreckage and the defence ministry said the number of dead could rise. | Bodies were pulled from the wreckage and the defence ministry said the number of dead could rise. |
| Commuter Ramani Padmalatha, 42, told French news agency AFP that the train suddenly slowed after a "deafening noise". | Commuter Ramani Padmalatha, 42, told French news agency AFP that the train suddenly slowed after a "deafening noise". |
| "People were shouting 'bomb, bomb!' and scrambling to get out of the windows of the carriage... I managed to jump out from the door. People were stumbling out of that carriage with blood stains on their clothes, some with burns, some looking dazed," she said. | "People were shouting 'bomb, bomb!' and scrambling to get out of the windows of the carriage... I managed to jump out from the door. People were stumbling out of that carriage with blood stains on their clothes, some with burns, some looking dazed," she said. |
| Eyewitness R A Upali told the BBC Sinhala service the explosion took place as the train was pulling out of the station. | Eyewitness R A Upali told the BBC Sinhala service the explosion took place as the train was pulling out of the station. |
| "I ran to the place where the explosion happened. I saw people fall on the platform. People with minor injuries ran towards us." | "I ran to the place where the explosion happened. I saw people fall on the platform. People with minor injuries ran towards us." |
| The train compartment's windows were blown out and part of its roof was torn off in the blast, which left bloodstained bags and umbrellas strewn among the debris. | The train compartment's windows were blown out and part of its roof was torn off in the blast, which left bloodstained bags and umbrellas strewn among the debris. |
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| Victims of Sri Lankan train bomb are treated in hospital | Victims of Sri Lankan train bomb are treated in hospital |
| The attack came ten days after a suicide bomber on a motorcycle rammed a bus carrying police officers, while an explosion last month inside a bus killed more than 20 people. | The attack came ten days after a suicide bomber on a motorcycle rammed a bus carrying police officers, while an explosion last month inside a bus killed more than 20 people. |
| In February, 11 people died in a suicide attack at Colombo's main train station. | In February, 11 people died in a suicide attack at Colombo's main train station. |
| Warning | Warning |
| Meanwhile, battles have been continuing in the north of Sri Lanka, where the military is carrying out an offensive aimed at crushing the rebels by the end of this year. | Meanwhile, battles have been continuing in the north of Sri Lanka, where the military is carrying out an offensive aimed at crushing the rebels by the end of this year. |
| On Monday air force helicopters attacked Tiger positions a day after fighting on the ground killed 21 rebels and one soldier, according to the military. | On Monday air force helicopters attacked Tiger positions a day after fighting on the ground killed 21 rebels and one soldier, according to the military. |
| Correspondents say that the number of attacks in the south has increased as the fighting has intensified in the north. | Correspondents say that the number of attacks in the south has increased as the fighting has intensified in the north. |
| The Tigers have fought for a generation for an independent state for the Tamil minority in the island's north and east. | The Tigers have fought for a generation for an independent state for the Tamil minority in the island's north and east. |
| About 70,000 people have been killed since the civil war began in 1983. | About 70,000 people have been killed since the civil war began in 1983. |
| Violence in the island nation increased after the government formally pulled out of a ceasefire agreement in January. | Violence in the island nation increased after the government formally pulled out of a ceasefire agreement in January. |
| Before the latest outbreak of hostilities, the Tamil Tigers had warned that not only the Tamils in the north, but the majority-Sinhalese in the south would also feel the impact of the war. | Before the latest outbreak of hostilities, the Tamil Tigers had warned that not only the Tamils in the north, but the majority-Sinhalese in the south would also feel the impact of the war. |
| The warning has been followed up by roadside bombs, suicide blasts and explosions targeting public transport in the south, although civilians inside rebel-held territory in the north have also become victims of mines allegedly planted by the army. | The warning has been followed up by roadside bombs, suicide blasts and explosions targeting public transport in the south, although civilians inside rebel-held territory in the north have also become victims of mines allegedly planted by the army. |
| Analysts say that if the violence continues, the government may be forced to redeploy some troops from the northern battlefront to the south to step up security. | Analysts say that if the violence continues, the government may be forced to redeploy some troops from the northern battlefront to the south to step up security. |