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| Children die in S Lanka bus blast | Children die in S Lanka bus blast |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Eleven schoolchildren are among at least 18 people killed in a bomb attack on a bus in north-western Sri Lanka, the Roman Catholic church says. | Eleven schoolchildren are among at least 18 people killed in a bomb attack on a bus in north-western Sri Lanka, the Roman Catholic church says. |
| Bishop Rayappu Joseph told the BBC that the bus travelling near the town of Mannar was hit by a claymore mine in an area controlled by the Tamil Tigers. | Bishop Rayappu Joseph told the BBC that the bus travelling near the town of Mannar was hit by a claymore mine in an area controlled by the Tamil Tigers. |
| The pro-rebel Tamilnet website said it was carried out by the Sri Lankan army. | The pro-rebel Tamilnet website said it was carried out by the Sri Lankan army. |
| The army, which pulled out of a ceasefire earlier this month, denies any involvement. | The army, which pulled out of a ceasefire earlier this month, denies any involvement. |
| The incident comes as the army says it is making more advances in Tiger-controlled territory. | The incident comes as the army says it is making more advances in Tiger-controlled territory. |
| Bishop Joseph said victims of the attack had been taken to Pallamadu hospital, south-west of Mannar. | Bishop Joseph said victims of the attack had been taken to Pallamadu hospital, south-west of Mannar. |
| Deadly claymore mines | Deadly claymore mines |
| The bishop said that the bus was hit about 1km (0.6miles) away from Madu church - about 3km from the front line which divides the rebels from the army. | The bishop said that the bus was hit about 1km (0.6miles) away from Madu church - about 3km from the front line which divides the rebels from the army. |
| He said it was travelling to the village of Pallamadu when it came under attack. | He said it was travelling to the village of Pallamadu when it came under attack. |
| The head of the rebels' peace secretariat, S Pulithevan, told the BBC that the children were returning from a sports meeting. | The head of the rebels' peace secretariat, S Pulithevan, told the BBC that the children were returning from a sports meeting. |
| He said that seven adults, including teachers, were among the dead and blamed the Sri Lankan military for planting a roadside bomb. | He said that seven adults, including teachers, were among the dead and blamed the Sri Lankan military for planting a roadside bomb. |
| Heavy fighting | Heavy fighting |
| The incident came as the military said that it had captured territory in the north-west and killed 22 Tamil Tigers. | The incident came as the military said that it had captured territory in the north-west and killed 22 Tamil Tigers. |
| Military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said that the Tigers were being "hammered on all fronts" and were trying to tarnish the image of the military and the government. | Military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said that the Tigers were being "hammered on all fronts" and were trying to tarnish the image of the military and the government. |
| The army said that more than 40 rebels and three soldiers were killed on Monday. | The army said that more than 40 rebels and three soldiers were killed on Monday. |
| The BBC's Roland Buerk says that the heaviest fighting is taking place on front line around Mannar. | The BBC's Roland Buerk says that the heaviest fighting is taking place on front line around Mannar. |
| On Tuesday soldiers pushed across the defences there, according to the military. The military said that it had captured small areas of land fortified with more than a dozen bunkers in two separate battles. | On Tuesday soldiers pushed across the defences there, according to the military. The military said that it had captured small areas of land fortified with more than a dozen bunkers in two separate battles. |
| Our correspondent says that the government refuses to allow reporters into the conflict areas and the casualty figures cannot be independently verified. | Our correspondent says that the government refuses to allow reporters into the conflict areas and the casualty figures cannot be independently verified. |
| The civil war has intensified in Sri Lanka since earlier this month, when the government pulled out of a ceasefire with the rebels, who want an independent state. | The civil war has intensified in Sri Lanka since earlier this month, when the government pulled out of a ceasefire with the rebels, who want an independent state. |
| The military is hoping to wipe out the Tigers by the end of this year. | The military is hoping to wipe out the Tigers by the end of this year. |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he will also produce a political solution to resolve the Tamil minority's complaints of discrimination. | President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he will also produce a political solution to resolve the Tamil minority's complaints of discrimination. |
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