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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Suicide bomb attack hits Colombo | Suicide bomb attack hits Colombo |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A suicide bomber has killed one person and injured two others in an attack in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. | A suicide bomber has killed one person and injured two others in an attack in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo. |
| The woman, who died in the blast, was stopped from entering the offices of Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda, and blew herself up outside. | The woman, who died in the blast, was stopped from entering the offices of Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda, and blew herself up outside. |
| Mr Devananda was unhurt. Officials said the Tamil Tigers were responsible. | Mr Devananda was unhurt. Officials said the Tamil Tigers were responsible. |
| It comes a day after the Tamil Tiger leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, said hopes for peace were naive, after increased fighting in the north. | It comes a day after the Tamil Tiger leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, said hopes for peace were naive, after increased fighting in the north. |
| The Tigers say that more than 20 civilians, most of them children, were killed on Tuesday in two attacks by the military in the north. | The Tigers say that more than 20 civilians, most of them children, were killed on Tuesday in two attacks by the military in the north. |
| Secretary dead | Secretary dead |
| Mr Devananda, the target of Wednesday's attack, is the leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party, which is seen as a rival to the Tamil Tiger rebels. | Mr Devananda, the target of Wednesday's attack, is the leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party, which is seen as a rival to the Tamil Tiger rebels. |
| His personal secretary and two security staff were injured by the explosion. | His personal secretary and two security staff were injured by the explosion. |
| The secretary died in hospital, and one of the other two injured is in a critical condition. | The secretary died in hospital, and one of the other two injured is in a critical condition. |
| "It was a suicide mission by the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)," said an elite police officer, quoted by Reuters news agency. | "It was a suicide mission by the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)," said an elite police officer, quoted by Reuters news agency. |
| "The body of the female LTTE suicide cadre is at the scene." | "The body of the female LTTE suicide cadre is at the scene." |
| Officials said the bomber was disabled, and mingled with crowds outside the government building before detonating her device. | |
| 'Genocidal' | 'Genocidal' |
| The Tamil Tigers said that at least 11 of those killed in the north on Tuesday were schoolchildren whose bus hit a mine laid by the military. The army denied responsibility. | The Tamil Tigers said that at least 11 of those killed in the north on Tuesday were schoolchildren whose bus hit a mine laid by the military. The army denied responsibility. |
| Nine others died when the Tigers' radio station was bombed, the rebels said. | Nine others died when the Tigers' radio station was bombed, the rebels said. |
| In a broadcast speech, Prabhakaran said it was naivety to believe peace was possible with any of the parties in the Sinhalese-dominated south of the country. | In a broadcast speech, Prabhakaran said it was naivety to believe peace was possible with any of the parties in the Sinhalese-dominated south of the country. |
| He described the government as "genocidal" and said the international community should stop propping it up with economic and military aid. | He described the government as "genocidal" and said the international community should stop propping it up with economic and military aid. |
| "Those who plan to destroy the Tamil nation will in the end be forced to face their own destruction," he said. | "Those who plan to destroy the Tamil nation will in the end be forced to face their own destruction," he said. |
| Since his last address the Tigers have been driven from the east of the country and are under pressure in areas of the north that they still control. | Since his last address the Tigers have been driven from the east of the country and are under pressure in areas of the north that they still control. |
| A Norwegian-brokered ceasefire in 2002 broke down two years ago, resulting in renewed fighting that has killed more than 5,000 people. | A Norwegian-brokered ceasefire in 2002 broke down two years ago, resulting in renewed fighting that has killed more than 5,000 people. |
| At least 70,000 people have died since the war began in 1983. | At least 70,000 people have died since the war began in 1983. |