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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka blast 'kills civilians' | Sri Lanka blast 'kills civilians' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 15 people have been killed in an explosion on a bus carrying civilians in the eastern district of Ampara in Sri Lanka, officials say. | At least 15 people have been killed in an explosion on a bus carrying civilians in the eastern district of Ampara in Sri Lanka, officials say. |
| The government has accused Tamil Tiger rebels of being behind the blast. | The government has accused Tamil Tiger rebels of being behind the blast. |
| The bombing follows a weekend of violence in which six tsunami reconstruction workers were shot dead. | The bombing follows a weekend of violence in which six tsunami reconstruction workers were shot dead. |
| There has been worsening violence in Sri Lanka in recent months, mainly in the east and north, which has left tens of thousands of civilians homeless. | There has been worsening violence in Sri Lanka in recent months, mainly in the east and north, which has left tens of thousands of civilians homeless. |
| 'Dead on admission' | |
| The defence ministry said ambulances and security personnel were seen rushing towards the scene of Monday's explosion on the main road connecting Ampara and Badulla. | The defence ministry said ambulances and security personnel were seen rushing towards the scene of Monday's explosion on the main road connecting Ampara and Badulla. |
| "The bomb went off just at the Kondawattuwan check point," a police officer told the AFP news agency. | |
| "We now believe that the blast was aboard the bus. It may have been a parcel bomb or even a suicide attack." | |
| "Three people were dead on admission and 12 others died in hospital," a hospital official said, adding 25 more people were undergoing treatment. | |
| The defence ministry has put the blame for the bomb attack on the Tigers. | |
| The rebels have, however, denied any involvement. | |
| "We have nothing to do with this blast," a rebel spokesperson told AFP. | |
| Orphanage | |
| The six tsunami reconstruction workers, all ethnic Sinhalese, were killed on Sunday in the eastern district of Batticaloa. | The six tsunami reconstruction workers, all ethnic Sinhalese, were killed on Sunday in the eastern district of Batticaloa. |
| They were employed in building an orphanage for survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that devastated much of the Sri Lankan coast. | They were employed in building an orphanage for survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that devastated much of the Sri Lankan coast. |
| The government says the Tamil Tigers killed them. The Tigers blame a group that broke away from them, led by Colonel Karuna, which the Tigers say fights alongside the army against the Tigers. | The government says the Tamil Tigers killed them. The Tigers blame a group that broke away from them, led by Colonel Karuna, which the Tigers say fights alongside the army against the Tigers. |
| The bodies of two people shot dead by unknown gunmen were found in the northern Vavuniya area on Sunday night, the pro-Tamil Tiger website says. | The bodies of two people shot dead by unknown gunmen were found in the northern Vavuniya area on Sunday night, the pro-Tamil Tiger website says. |
| Territorial gains | Territorial gains |
| Both the Tigers and the military are, officially, still observing a 2002 ceasefire which has become meaningless in practice. | Both the Tigers and the military are, officially, still observing a 2002 ceasefire which has become meaningless in practice. |
| Violence began to increase after the 2005 election of President Mahinda Rajapakse. Since then some 4,000 people have been killed. | Violence began to increase after the 2005 election of President Mahinda Rajapakse. Since then some 4,000 people have been killed. |
| In one of the worst incidents more than 60 people - many of them children - were killed in a mine attack the government said the Tigers carried out on a bus in the town of Kabithigollewa, 200km (125 miles) north of the capital, Colombo, last June. | In one of the worst incidents more than 60 people - many of them children - were killed in a mine attack the government said the Tigers carried out on a bus in the town of Kabithigollewa, 200km (125 miles) north of the capital, Colombo, last June. |
| In recent weeks the army has made gains into Tamil Tiger territory in the east. | In recent weeks the army has made gains into Tamil Tiger territory in the east. |
| The Tigers are fighting for a Tamil homeland in the north and east of the island. | The Tigers are fighting for a Tamil homeland in the north and east of the island. |