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| Sri Lankan bus blast 'kills five' | Sri Lankan bus blast 'kills five' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least five people have been killed and 30 injured after a bomb attack on a bus in Sri Lanka, officials say. | |
| The blast occurred near Nittambuwa town, 40km (25 miles) north-east of the capital Colombo. | The blast occurred near Nittambuwa town, 40km (25 miles) north-east of the capital Colombo. |
| There were about 80 civilians on board at the time of the attack, which took place during the evening rush-hour. | There were about 80 civilians on board at the time of the attack, which took place during the evening rush-hour. |
| Defence ministry officials have blamed suspected Tamil Tiger rebels for the attack. However, the Tamil Tigers have denied any involvement. | Defence ministry officials have blamed suspected Tamil Tiger rebels for the attack. However, the Tamil Tigers have denied any involvement. |
| Sri Lankan army spokesperson Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told the BBC Tamil Service that a bomb had been placed under a seat on the private bus. | Sri Lankan army spokesperson Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told the BBC Tamil Service that a bomb had been placed under a seat on the private bus. |
| The Tigers have denied carrying out the attack, saying they condemn the killing of innocent civilians. | The Tigers have denied carrying out the attack, saying they condemn the killing of innocent civilians. |
| 'Human shields' | 'Human shields' |
| Earlier, the Sri Lankan military said it had bombed Tamil Tiger rebel positions in the north of the country for the fourth day in a row. | Earlier, the Sri Lankan military said it had bombed Tamil Tiger rebel positions in the north of the country for the fourth day in a row. |
| A military spokesman said the early morning raids destroyed a rebel naval base in Mullaittivu district. | A military spokesman said the early morning raids destroyed a rebel naval base in Mullaittivu district. |
| At least 16 civilians were killed in an airstrike in the north-west on Tuesday - the rebels and others said government planes had attacked a fishing village. | At least 16 civilians were killed in an airstrike in the north-west on Tuesday - the rebels and others said government planes had attacked a fishing village. |
| The government has admitted some civilians might have been killed in the attack, but said they were being used as human shields. | The government has admitted some civilians might have been killed in the attack, but said they were being used as human shields. |
| Meanwhile, in the east of the country, the government is trying to capture some areas now under Tamil Tiger control. | Meanwhile, in the east of the country, the government is trying to capture some areas now under Tamil Tiger control. |
| The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says both sides are supposed to be observing a ceasefire, but the agreement has been left in tatters by fighting in which more than 3,500 people were killed last year. | The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says both sides are supposed to be observing a ceasefire, but the agreement has been left in tatters by fighting in which more than 3,500 people were killed last year. |