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Sri Lanka minister survives blast Sri Lanka minister survives blast
(about 2 hours later)
An explosion has hit a convoy of cars carrying President Mahinda Rajapakse's brother in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, officials say. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's brother has escaped a suspected suicide bomb attack in the capital, Colombo, officials said.
Gothabaya Rajapakse, who is also the defence secretary, is "safe", military spokesman Brig Prasad Samarasinghe told the Associated Press news agency. Gothabaya Rajapakse, who is also the defence secretary, was "safe", a military spokesman said.
A number of soldiers have been wounded in the explosion, reports say. The government has blamed Tamil Tiger rebels for the blast, which killed at least one person and hurt 14 others.
Brig Samarasinghe said that a suicide bomber had triggered off the blast near a convoy of vehicles. The spokesman said a suicide bomber triggered the explosion near a convoy of vehicles carrying Mr Rajapakse.
He said Mr Rajapakse, who is the brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, was in one of the cars. Brig Prasad Samarasinghe said Mr Rajapakse was in one of the cars.
"He is safe, no harm has come to him," he said."He is safe, no harm has come to him," he said.
The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says Gothabaya Rajapakse has been a vocal critic of the rebels, and is known as a hardliner who is against holding talks with them.
An eyewitness told Reuters news agency that he saw a wreckage of a taxi and a pick-up truck at the blast site.An eyewitness told Reuters news agency that he saw a wreckage of a taxi and a pick-up truck at the blast site.
'No option'
Senior police official Jayantha Wickremeratne said the suspected bomber was apparently riding a scooter rickshaw and targeted the convoy of vehicles.
It was not immediately known who was responsible for the bombing.
A convoy of cars was targeted by the suspected bomber
The explosion comes days after the Tamil Tiger rebels said they had "no option" but to push for an independent state.The explosion comes days after the Tamil Tiger rebels said they had "no option" but to push for an independent state.
Rebel leader Prabhakaran had said a truce with the military was "defunct" and accused the government of unleashing war on Tamils.Rebel leader Prabhakaran had said a truce with the military was "defunct" and accused the government of unleashing war on Tamils.
Correspondents say that while he did not mention re-starting the war, the threat was there in almost every sentence.Correspondents say that while he did not mention re-starting the war, the threat was there in almost every sentence.
Violence has soared in Sri Lanka since late last year, with both sides accused of breaking the 2002 ceasefire.Violence has soared in Sri Lanka since late last year, with both sides accused of breaking the 2002 ceasefire.
About 65,000 people were killed in fighting before the 2002 truce was agreed.About 65,000 people were killed in fighting before the 2002 truce was agreed.
The rebels want a homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east. They say Tamils have been discriminated against by the island's Sinhalese majority.The rebels want a homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east. They say Tamils have been discriminated against by the island's Sinhalese majority.