This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7456080.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
S Lanka 'suicide bomb' kills many | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
At least 12 policemen have been killed and many more wounded in a suicide bombing in Sri Lanka's northern town of Vavuniya, police say. | |
A man on a motorcycle reportedly detonated explosives in front of a police office in the town, 250km (120 miles) from the capital Colombo. | A man on a motorcycle reportedly detonated explosives in front of a police office in the town, 250km (120 miles) from the capital Colombo. |
The area has been sealed off and the injured have been taken to hospital. | The area has been sealed off and the injured have been taken to hospital. |
It is not clear who carried out the attack but suspicion has fallen on Tamil Tiger rebels. | It is not clear who carried out the attack but suspicion has fallen on Tamil Tiger rebels. |
The rebels have been blamed for a recent series of bombings in Sri Lanka. | The rebels have been blamed for a recent series of bombings in Sri Lanka. |
School children were among around 40 victims being treated for their wounds after Monday's attack, hospital officials said. | School children were among around 40 victims being treated for their wounds after Monday's attack, hospital officials said. |
Intense fighting | Intense fighting |
There has been intense fighting between the rebels and the army in the north of the island over the last month. | There has been intense fighting between the rebels and the army in the north of the island over the last month. |
The military is carrying out an offensive which it says is aimed at crushing the rebels by the end of this year. | The military is carrying out an offensive which it says is aimed at crushing the rebels by the end of this year. |
Troops drove the Tamil Tigers from strongholds in the east last year. | Troops drove the Tamil Tigers from strongholds in the east last year. |
Both sides in the war in the north claim to have inflicted heavy casualties on the other in recent weeks. | Both sides in the war in the north claim to have inflicted heavy casualties on the other in recent weeks. |
It is impossible to verify either account because the government bars journalists from the frontline areas. | It is impossible to verify either account because the government bars journalists from the frontline areas. |
Tamil Tiger rebels have also been blamed for a spate of recent bomb attacks in and around Colombo, mainly targeting buses and trains. | Tamil Tiger rebels have also been blamed for a spate of recent bomb attacks in and around Colombo, mainly targeting buses and trains. |
Dozens have been killed and many more wounded. | Dozens have been killed and many more wounded. |
The rebels have accused the military of the roadside bombings which have killed many civilians in the rebel-held north. The government has denied the allegations. | The rebels have accused the military of the roadside bombings which have killed many civilians in the rebel-held north. The government has denied the allegations. |
Sri Lanka's civil war has intensified since the government formally ended a ceasefire with the rebels in January. In practice, the truce had been dead for months. | Sri Lanka's civil war has intensified since the government formally ended a ceasefire with the rebels in January. In practice, the truce had been dead for months. |
The rebels have fought for a generation for an independent state for the Tamil minority in the island's north and east. | The rebels 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. |