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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Suicide blast hits Sri Lanka town | Suicide blast hits Sri Lanka town |
| (4 days later) | |
| A suicide blast in the Sri Lankan town of Anuradhapura has killed at least 27 people, including a former senior general, according to the army. | A suicide blast in the Sri Lankan town of Anuradhapura has killed at least 27 people, including a former senior general, according to the army. |
| Maj Gen Janaka Perera, a controversial commander in the Jaffna peninsula in the 1990s, died alongside his wife. | Maj Gen Janaka Perera, a controversial commander in the Jaffna peninsula in the 1990s, died alongside his wife. |
| More than 80 people were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside the United National Party office near a bus depot, officials said. | More than 80 people were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside the United National Party office near a bus depot, officials said. |
| They blamed the attack on separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. | They blamed the attack on separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. |
| Gen Perera was the provincial leader of the United National Party (UNP), the country's main opposition party, and a critic of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government. | Gen Perera was the provincial leader of the United National Party (UNP), the country's main opposition party, and a critic of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government. |
| Government offensive | Government offensive |
| The UNP has accused the government of ignoring repeated requests for a stronger security detail for Gen Perera. | The UNP has accused the government of ignoring repeated requests for a stronger security detail for Gen Perera. |
| In pictures: Anuradhapura attack | In pictures: Anuradhapura attack |
| "The government must take full responsibility," said party offical Tissa Attanayake. "They did not give him adequate security for political reasons." | "The government must take full responsibility," said party offical Tissa Attanayake. "They did not give him adequate security for political reasons." |
| Three opposition provincial councillors are among the dead, a military spokesman said. | Three opposition provincial councillors are among the dead, a military spokesman said. |
| The attack comes as the Sri Lankan military continues to close in on the Tamil Tigers' northern stronghold of Kilinochchi. | The attack comes as the Sri Lankan military continues to close in on the Tamil Tigers' northern stronghold of Kilinochchi. |
| The head of the army says his troops are within 2km (1.25 miles) of the Tigers' administrative headquarters in the town. | The head of the army says his troops are within 2km (1.25 miles) of the Tigers' administrative headquarters in the town. |
| Journalists are not allowed access to the fighting to verify such claims. | Journalists are not allowed access to the fighting to verify such claims. |
| However, the progress of the government offensive has raised fears that the Tigers will step up suicide attacks. | However, the progress of the government offensive has raised fears that the Tigers will step up suicide attacks. |
| Analysts warn that the Tigers' ability to carry out such attacks cannot be ignored. | Analysts warn that the Tigers' ability to carry out such attacks cannot be ignored. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| The aftermath of the blast in Anuradhapura | The aftermath of the blast in Anuradhapura |
| Gen Perera was one of Sri Lanka's most prominent army officers and held the command of government forces in the Jaffna peninsula, a Tiger stronghold, in the mid-1990s. | Gen Perera was one of Sri Lanka's most prominent army officers and held the command of government forces in the Jaffna peninsula, a Tiger stronghold, in the mid-1990s. |
| The Tamil community accused him of being responsible for hundreds of deaths and the torture of Tamils in the region during the period. | The Tamil community accused him of being responsible for hundreds of deaths and the torture of Tamils in the region during the period. |
| The human rights group Amnesty International raised similar concerns. | The human rights group Amnesty International raised similar concerns. |
| After retiring from the army, Gen Perera served as Sri Lanka's high commissioner to Australia and ambassador to Indonesia. | After retiring from the army, Gen Perera served as Sri Lanka's high commissioner to Australia and ambassador to Indonesia. |
| His appointment as the envoy to Australia in June 2001 sparked protest demonstrations in Sydney. | His appointment as the envoy to Australia in June 2001 sparked protest demonstrations in Sydney. |
| More than 300 Tamils protested outside the Australian parliament accusing Gen Perera of "war crimes". | More than 300 Tamils protested outside the Australian parliament accusing Gen Perera of "war crimes". |
| The Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for a quarter of a century and about 70,000 people have been killed in the violence. | The Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for a quarter of a century and about 70,000 people have been killed in the violence. |