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| Deadly bomb attacks in Sri Lanka | Deadly bomb attacks in Sri Lanka |
| (9 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 37 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 described hopes for peace as 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 bus | Burning 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. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. |
| Sri Lankan troops were deployed at the ministry after the first blast | |
| 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 a rival Tamil movement, the Eelam People's Democratic Party. | He is the leader of a rival Tamil movement, the Eelam People's Democratic Party. |
| BBC South Asia correspondent Chris Morris says Mr Devananda is a bitter opponent of the Tigers and has been targeted by them before. | BBC South Asia correspondent Chris Morris says Mr Devananda is a bitter opponent of the Tigers and has been targeted by them before. |
| Mr Devananda's personal secretary and two security staff were injured by the explosion. The secretary later died in hospital. | Mr Devananda's personal secretary and two security staff were injured by the explosion. The secretary later died in hospital. |
| Officials said the suicide bomber was a disabled woman who mingled with crowds outside the government building before detonating her device. | Officials said the suicide bomber was a disabled woman who 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. |
| 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. |