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Sri Lanka convoy blast 'kills 67' Sri Lanka convoy blast 'kills 90'
(about 2 hours later)
At least 67 people have been killed in a suicide attack on a navy convoy in northern Sri Lanka, the military says. At least 90 navy personnel have been killed in a Tamil Tiger suicide attack on a military bus convoy in northern Sri Lanka, the military says.
Military officials told the BBC that they had counted the bodies near the town of Digampathana, near Trincomalee. Military officials told the BBC that they had already recovered 67 bodies near the town of Digampathana.
They say that at least 60 people - navy personnel and civilians - were injured in a "huge explosion" involving an "explosive-laden vehicle". They say that at least 60 others were injured in a "huge explosion" involving an "explosive-laden vehicle".
The blasts come amid renewed violence in Sri Lanka, with both the military and Tamil rebels taking heavy losses. At least 2,000 people have been killed in violence this year in Sri Lanka, the military and ceasefire monitors say.
At least 129 Sri Lanka soldiers were killed in one day of fighting on Wednesday, and more than 300 soldiers injured.
That figure represented the worst single day of casualties for the military since a ceasefire was signed in 2002.
Correspondents say the violence could derail peace talks due to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, at the end of the month.Correspondents say the violence could derail peace talks due to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, at the end of the month.
Wounded 'Cowardly'
Defence officials say the death toll maybe higher, with up to 90 sailors dead. The government says the Tamil Tigers targeted a convoy of buses carrying navy servicemen going on leave in Monday's attack.
The government has blamed the Tamil Tigers for Monday's attack on a convoy of navy servicemen going on leave. "We are still pulling bodies from the wreckage," army spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe told the BBC.
A number of civilians were reported to have been caught up in the blast.A number of civilians were reported to have been caught up in the blast.
"Suicide bombers drove a truck packed with explosives into the area where there were about 15 buses of sailors," a police official in the nearby town of Sigiriya told the AFP news agency."Suicide bombers drove a truck packed with explosives into the area where there were about 15 buses of sailors," a police official in the nearby town of Sigiriya told the AFP news agency.
"We have two helicopters to evacuate the wounded," the official said. A staff member from a nearby hotel told the BBC News website that the blast took place in a cleared area used as an army bus park.
"It is quite an isolated place used by the army to set down and pick up army personnel," he said. "When we went to look at the scene, the road was jammed with vehicles and the army wouldn't let us through."
A spokesman for President Mahinda Rajapakse described the attack as "another example of the Tamil Tiger's cowardly use of extreme violence against unarmed services personnel".
SRI LANKA'S DESCENT TO VIOLENCE 16 October 2006: At least 90 navy personnel are feared dead in a suicide attack on a navy convoy11 October 2006: 129 soldiers killed in fighting between army and the Tamil Tigers4 September 2006: Troops take control of a crucial area near the north-eastern town of Trincomalee held by the Tamil Tigers7 August 2006: Seventeen local employees of a French charity shot dead in the town of Muttur26 June 2006: A suspected suicide bomber kills a top Sri Lankan general near Colombo15 June 2006: At least 64 people - many of them children - are killed in a mine attack on a Sri Lankan bus Military's 'bloody nose'
The spokesman said the attack happened "in a civilian area away from the area of armed confrontation."
"It was significant that this attack took place as foreign envoys from Japan, the US and Norway were arriving here to discuss progress in the peace process and the upcoming talks in Geneva," he said.
The rebels have neither confirmed nor denied carrying out the attack but they it was justified.
Another official told the Reuters news agency that 13 of the 15 buses had been damaged in the explosion, and that the dead and injured were being taken to a nearby hospital.Another official told the Reuters news agency that 13 of the 15 buses had been damaged in the explosion, and that the dead and injured were being taken to a nearby hospital.
Brigadier Samarasinghe said that three buses were still burning.
The blast comes shortly after Japan's peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi, met President Mahinda Rajapakse in the capital, Colombo.The blast comes shortly after Japan's peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi, met President Mahinda Rajapakse in the capital, Colombo.
It was the first of a number of new diplomatic efforts ahead of talks due between the government and the Tamil Tigers at the end of October.It was the first of a number of new diplomatic efforts ahead of talks due between the government and the Tamil Tigers at the end of October.
At least 2,000 people have been killed in violence this year in Sri Lanka, the military and ceasefire monitors say.
Norway's peace envoy, Jon Hanssen-Bauer, is due in the island on Tuesday. Richard Boucher, the US assistant secretary of state, is due on Thursday.Norway's peace envoy, Jon Hanssen-Bauer, is due in the island on Tuesday. Richard Boucher, the US assistant secretary of state, is due on Thursday.
The diplomats will be hoping to help the government and the Tamil Tigers rebels reconcile their differences.The diplomats will be hoping to help the government and the Tamil Tigers rebels reconcile their differences.
No details of the meeting between Mr Akashi and Mr Rajapakse have been released. Mr Akashi is due to meet senior Tamil Tigers in the north of the island later in the week.No details of the meeting between Mr Akashi and Mr Rajapakse have been released. Mr Akashi is due to meet senior Tamil Tigers in the north of the island later in the week.
Japan is one of the key international donors to Sri Lanka.Japan is one of the key international donors to Sri Lanka.
TrawlerTrawler
There were more reports of violence over the weekend.There were more reports of violence over the weekend.
The military said the navy destroyed a trawler carrying arms off the island's west coast on Sunday, leaving at least five rebels dead.The military said the navy destroyed a trawler carrying arms off the island's west coast on Sunday, leaving at least five rebels dead.
Four civilians were also killed in northern Jaffna peninsula in three separate incidents, the pro-rebel TamilNet website said. In each case it says the shootings were carried out by unidentified gunmen.Four civilians were also killed in northern Jaffna peninsula in three separate incidents, the pro-rebel TamilNet website said. In each case it says the shootings were carried out by unidentified gunmen.
At least three Sinhala civilians were reported to have been kidnapped and killed near the town of Vavuniya, 260km (160 miles) north of Colombo. At least three Sinhalese civilians were reported to have been kidnapped and killed near the town of Vavuniya, 260km (160 miles) north of Colombo.
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