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Sri Lankan bomb attack kills 16 Deadly bomb attacks in Sri Lanka
(20 minutes later)
At least 16 people have been killed in a bomb explosion in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, the military says.At least 16 people have been killed in a bomb explosion in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, the military says.
At least 20 people were injured in the blast, which hit the city's busy Nugegoda district. More than 20 people were also injured in the blast, which hit the city's busy Nugegoda district.
It came just hours after a female suicide bomber killed one person and injured two others in the capital. The bomb went off outside a clothing shop, after a guard reportedly tried to open a suspicious parcel.
That blast happened outside the offices of Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda, who escaped unhurt. Officials blamed Tamil Tiger rebels for the blast. The blast came just hours after a suicide bomber killed one person and hurt two in Colombo. Officials blamed the two attacks on Tamil Tiger rebels.
The two attacks came a day after the Tamil Tiger leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, said hopes for peace were naive, after increased fighting in the north. They took place a day after 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 in two attacks by the military in the north on Tuesday.
Secretary dead Burning bus
The second bomb exploded outside a clothing shop in Nugegoda, the military said. The second blast occurred just outside the four-storey clothing shop during the evening rush hour.
The blast occurred when a security the shop's guard tried to open a suspicious parcel, a defence official was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.
In the first attack, a suicide bomber targeted Mr Devananda. He is the leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party, which is seen as a rival to the Tamil Tiger rebels.
The body of the female LTTE suicide cadre is at the scene Police officialThe body of the female LTTE suicide cadre is at the scene Police official
Mr Devananda's personal secretary and two security staff were injured by the explosion. "Sixteen people were brought in dead and at least 24 have been injured," a spokeswoman at one of Colombo's hospitals, told the AFP news agency.
The secretary died in hospital, and one of the other two injured is in a critical condition. A bus caught fire as a result of the explosion, the defence ministry said. There are fears that the death toll could rise further.
In the first attack, a suicide bomber blew herself up outside the offices of Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda, who escaped unharmed, officials said.
He is the leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party, which is seen as a rival to the Tamil Tiger rebels.
Mr Devananda's personal secretary and two security staff were injured by the explosion. The secretary later 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.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 naive to believe peace was possible with any of the parties in the Sinhalese-dominated south.
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.