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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Seven die in Sri Lanka bus attack | Seven die in Sri Lanka bus attack |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A roadside bomb has hit a bus in northern Sri Lanka, killing seven people and injuring 26, security officials say. | A roadside bomb has hit a bus in northern Sri Lanka, killing seven people and injuring 26, security officials say. |
| The bus hit a mine outside the town of Vavuniya, 250 km (155 miles) north of the capital, Colombo. | The bus hit a mine outside the town of Vavuniya, 250 km (155 miles) north of the capital, Colombo. |
| Vavuniya is the last government-held garrison town before territory held by the separatist Tamil Tigers, who are suspected of carrying out the attack. | Vavuniya is the last government-held garrison town before territory held by the separatist Tamil Tigers, who are suspected of carrying out the attack. |
| The Tigers have denied responsibility, and blame the military for the bombing. | |
| The injured - including seven soldiers - have been admitted to local hospitals. | |
| No claim | |
| A Sri Lankan military spokesman said the bus had hit a Tamil Tiger claymore mine, but the rebels swiftly denied any involvement. | |
| "It is part of series of incidents for the past few weeks continuously happening in the north-east," spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan said. | |
| "This is a programme of military intelligence people to tarnish the Tigers in the international forum." | |
| The attack was the second in less than a week, after 16 people were killed when a bus was targeted in eastern Ampara district on Monday. | The attack was the second in less than a week, after 16 people were killed when a bus was targeted in eastern Ampara district on Monday. |
| There has been no claim of responsibility for either attack, with the Tamil Tigers denying they were behind the Ampara blast. | |
| Theoretical ceasefire | Theoretical ceasefire |
| 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 about 4,000 people have been killed. | Violence began to increase after the 2005 election of President Mahinda Rajapakse. Since then about 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. |