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Deadly bomb attacks in Sri Lanka Deadly bomb attacks in Sri Lanka
(about 1 hour 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.
More than 20 people were also injured in the blast, which hit the city's busy Nugegoda district. At least 37 were also injured in the blast, which hit the city's busy Nugegoda district.
The bomb went off outside a clothing shop, after a guard reportedly tried to open a suspicious parcel.The bomb went off outside a clothing shop, after a guard reportedly tried to open a suspicious parcel.
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 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.
They took place a day after 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 described hopes for peace as naive, after increased fighting 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.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.
Burning busBurning bus
The second blast occurred just outside the four-storey clothing shop during the evening rush hour.The second blast occurred just outside the four-storey clothing shop during the evening rush hour.
The body of the female LTTE suicide cadre is at the scene Police official I was on the top floor of a shoe shop with my wife and child when I heard a big blast and there were glass pieces all over us A. JayasenaEyewitness
"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. Army spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said the explosion occurred after a security guard at the complex spotted a suspicious parcel and tried to handle it.
A bus caught fire as a result of the explosion, the defence ministry said. There are fears that the death toll could rise further. A bus caught fire as a result of the explosion, the defence ministry said.
There are fears that the death toll could rise further. Police are currently searching rubble for more bodies.
Mangled and charred motorcycle and taxi parts were scattered nearby.
"I was on the top floor of a shoe shop with my wife and child when I heard a big blast and there were glass pieces all over us," local resident A Jayasena told the Associated Press.
Recent rebel attacks on civilian targets of this scale have been rare, but bombings causing mass casualties have been a feature of Sri Lanka's conflict in the past.
In the first attack, a suicide bomber blew herself up outside the offices of Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda, who escaped unharmed, officials said.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. He is the leader of a rival Tamil movement, the Eelam People's Democratic Party.
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. BBC South Asia correspondent Chris Morris says Mr Devananda is a bitter opponent of the Tigers and has been targeted by them before.
"It was a suicide mission by the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)," said an elite police officer, quoted by Reuters news agency. Mr Devananda's personal secretary and two security staff were injured by the explosion. The secretary later died in hospital.
"The body of the female LTTE suicide cadre is at the scene." Officials said the suicide bomber was a disabled woman who 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 naive to believe peace was possible with any of the parties in the Sinhalese-dominated south.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.
"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.