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Bomber hits Sri Lanka checkpoint | |
(about 18 hours later) | |
A suicide bombing near Sri Lanka's main city of Colombo has killed at least five members of the paramilitary civil defence force, military officials said. | |
The attacker detonated the device after gaining entry to the guard post at a security checkpoint in Wattala, just outside the city, a spokesman said. | |
No group has yet claimed to have carried out the bombing. | No group has yet claimed to have carried out the bombing. |
The attack comes amid a military offensive by government troops against Tamil Tiger rebels in the north. | |
In a separate development, the Sri Lankan navy said it had sunk a boat off the north coast of Sri Lanka, which was carrying supplies to the rebels. | In a separate development, the Sri Lankan navy said it had sunk a boat off the north coast of Sri Lanka, which was carrying supplies to the rebels. |
Four rebels on the boat were killed, the defence ministry said. | Four rebels on the boat were killed, the defence ministry said. |
The suicide attack near Colombo took place hours later. | |
"A suicide cadre has gone inside a civil defence force post in Wattala and exploded himself," said military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara. | |
"Due to the explosion five civil defence force people were killed and four others injured." | "Due to the explosion five civil defence force people were killed and four others injured." |
The army says it is nearing victory in the 25-year war with the separatist Tiger Tamils, as they close in on the key rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi. | The army says it is nearing victory in the 25-year war with the separatist Tiger Tamils, as they close in on the key rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi. |
At least 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict. | At least 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict. |