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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Sri Lankan minister dies in blast | Sri Lankan minister dies in blast |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Sri Lankan minister, DM Dassanayake, has died in hospital after his convoy was hit by a powerful roadside blast near the capital, doctors said. | A Sri Lankan minister, DM Dassanayake, has died in hospital after his convoy was hit by a powerful roadside blast near the capital, doctors said. |
| The minister for nation-building was in a convoy between Colombo and the international airport when the bomb went off. Seven others were wounded. | The minister for nation-building was in a convoy between Colombo and the international airport when the bomb went off. Seven others were wounded. |
| The blast, in Ja-Ela town, 12 miles (19kms) north of Colombo, has been blamed on the Tamil Tiger rebels. | The blast, in Ja-Ela town, 12 miles (19kms) north of Colombo, has been blamed on the Tamil Tiger rebels. |
| In recent months, fighting between troops and rebels has worsened. | In recent months, fighting between troops and rebels has worsened. |
| "He died a short while ago," news agency Reuters quoted Lalini Gurusinghe as saying. Mr Gurusinghe is deputy director of the hospital in the town of Ragama, where the minister and other injured were admitted. | "He died a short while ago," news agency Reuters quoted Lalini Gurusinghe as saying. Mr Gurusinghe is deputy director of the hospital in the town of Ragama, where the minister and other injured were admitted. |
| According to reports, the minister suffered severe head injuries in the attack and died while undergoing surgery. | According to reports, the minister suffered severe head injuries in the attack and died while undergoing surgery. |
| Initial reports said Mr Dassanayake had not been seriously injured. | Initial reports said Mr Dassanayake had not been seriously injured. |
| Shattered windows | Shattered windows |
| Police said a Claymore mine - a landmine frequently used by Tamil Tiger rebels - was used in the attack. HIGH PROFILE KILLINGS Aug 2005: Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar shot dead in ColomboDec 2005: Pro-rebel MP Joseph Pararajasingham shot dead in Batticaloa churchJune 2006: Bomb kills third-highest army officer Maj Gen Parami KulatungaNov 2006: Pro-rebel politician Nadarajah Raviraj shot dead in ColomboNov 2007: Air raid kills SP Thamilselvan, head of rebels' political wingJan 2008 Tamil member of parliament, T Maheswaran, shot dead in ColomboJan 2008 - Rebels' intelligence chief Colonel Charles killed in fighting in the northJan 2008: DM Dassanayake, minister for nation building, killed by blast near Colombo | |
| Local television channels broadcast footage of damage suffered by the minister's car. | Local television channels broadcast footage of damage suffered by the minister's car. |
| The images showed shattered windows and the car's sides peppered with shrapnel. | The images showed shattered windows and the car's sides peppered with shrapnel. |
| There has been heavy fighting in the north of the country in recent days after the government announced it was pulling out of a ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers. | There has been heavy fighting in the north of the country in recent days after the government announced it was pulling out of a ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers. |
| According to the military, 20 Tiger fighters were killed in clashes on Monday on the front line. | According to the military, 20 Tiger fighters were killed in clashes on Monday on the front line. |
| Several soldiers were also wounded. | Several soldiers were also wounded. |
| Sri Lanka's government has given formal notice it will pull out of the 2002 ceasefire agreement with the Tigers on 16 January. | Sri Lanka's government has given formal notice it will pull out of the 2002 ceasefire agreement with the Tigers on 16 January. |
| Hardliners in the government and military are confident that the Tigers can be defeated. | Hardliners in the government and military are confident that the Tigers can be defeated. |
| The Norwegian-brokered ceasefire began breaking down two years ago, resulting in renewed fighting that has killed more than 5,000 people. | The Norwegian-brokered ceasefire began breaking 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 conflict began in 1983. | At least 70,000 people have died since the conflict began in 1983. |