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| Many dead in Sri Lanka bus attack | Many dead in Sri Lanka bus attack |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 12 people are believed to have died in a bomb attack on a civilian bus in northern Sri Lanka, the army says. | At least 12 people are believed to have died in a bomb attack on a civilian bus in northern Sri Lanka, the army says. |
| They say that the bomb went off near the town of Anuradhapura. | They say that the bomb went off near the town of Anuradhapura. |
| A large military parade was earlier held under tight security in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, to mark the 60th anniversary of independence. | A large military parade was earlier held under tight security in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, to mark the 60th anniversary of independence. |
| President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the parade the military were inflicting "unprecedented" defeats in their campaign against the Tamil Tigers. | President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the parade the military were inflicting "unprecedented" defeats in their campaign against the Tamil Tigers. |
| Security forces had been placed on high alert after a weekend of violence. | Security forces had been placed on high alert after a weekend of violence. |
| At least 11 people were killed in a suicide attack at Colombo's main railway station on Sunday. | At least 11 people were killed in a suicide attack at Colombo's main railway station on Sunday. |
| And on Saturday, 18 people died in another bus blast in the central town of Dambulla. | And on Saturday, 18 people died in another bus blast in the central town of Dambulla. |
| Both were blamed by the government on the Tamil Tigers rebels, though the rebels have denied involvement. | Both were blamed by the government on the Tamil Tigers rebels, though the rebels have denied involvement. |
| Attack fears | Attack fears |
| News of Monday's attack near Anuradhapura came just after President Rajapaksa addressed a military parade in Colombo 60 years after it gained independence. | |
| The authorities have blamed Tamil Tiger rebels for that attack and another bomb blast in the south of the country which killed a soldiier and injured five others. | |
| The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says the parade was a show of strength by Sri Lanka's armed forces - once again, officially at war with the Tamil Tigers. | |
| Mr Rajapaksa said terrorism and poverty were holding Sri Lanka back | Mr Rajapaksa said terrorism and poverty were holding Sri Lanka back |
| "Our security forces are today achieving victories against terrorism unprecedented in history. Terrorism is receiving an unprecedented defeat," he said. | "Our security forces are today achieving victories against terrorism unprecedented in history. Terrorism is receiving an unprecedented defeat," he said. |
| "In less than two years we have liberated the large Eastern Province that was under the clutches of the terrorists and confined them to two districts, only." | "In less than two years we have liberated the large Eastern Province that was under the clutches of the terrorists and confined them to two districts, only." |
| The president said that "the defeat of the most ruthless terrorists of the world in Sri Lanka is also a victory of the developed world". | The president said that "the defeat of the most ruthless terrorists of the world in Sri Lanka is also a victory of the developed world". |
| "We are also fully committed to carry on this battle while safeguarding human rights. This is the reality," he said. | "We are also fully committed to carry on this battle while safeguarding human rights. This is the reality," he said. |
| "In short, two years ago, no one believed that terrorists could be defeated. But, during the last two years we made it a reality in our motherland." | "In short, two years ago, no one believed that terrorists could be defeated. But, during the last two years we made it a reality in our motherland." |
| The Tigers have marked independence day by once again saying they will fight on for a separate state for the Tamil minority in the north and east. | The Tigers have marked independence day by once again saying they will fight on for a separate state for the Tamil minority in the north and east. |
| "This is not a day of independence nor is it a day of celebration for our people," rebel spokesman B Nadesan said. | "This is not a day of independence nor is it a day of celebration for our people," rebel spokesman B Nadesan said. |
| "The Sri Lankan government are still continuing its ethnic cleansing and mass killings among the Tamil people." | "The Sri Lankan government are still continuing its ethnic cleansing and mass killings among the Tamil people." |
| Sea fears | Sea fears |
| Ranks of soldiers, sailors and airmen were drawn up on grounds overlooking the Indian Ocean for Monday's parade. | Ranks of soldiers, sailors and airmen were drawn up on grounds overlooking the Indian Ocean for Monday's parade. |
| Tanks and trucks carrying multi-barrelled rocket launchers rumbled past. Heavy guns fired a salute sending smoke drifting out over the blue water, our correspondent says. | Tanks and trucks carrying multi-barrelled rocket launchers rumbled past. Heavy guns fired a salute sending smoke drifting out over the blue water, our correspondent says. |
| The parade is the first major event since the truce officially ended | The parade is the first major event since the truce officially ended |
| Much of the centre of Colombo was been sealed off by military checkpoints. | Much of the centre of Colombo was been sealed off by military checkpoints. |
| Thousands of police and troops were deployed on the streets and the navy stepped up coastal patrols to combat a possible sea-borne attack. | Thousands of police and troops were deployed on the streets and the navy stepped up coastal patrols to combat a possible sea-borne attack. |
| Last month, the government pulled out of the 2002 ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers, arguing the rebels had used it to re-group and re-arm. | Last month, the government pulled out of the 2002 ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers, arguing the rebels had used it to re-group and re-arm. |
| Since then, fighting has intensified on the frontlines that surround Tiger-held territory in the north. | Since then, fighting has intensified on the frontlines that surround Tiger-held territory in the north. |
| Sri Lanka's army commander Lt-Gen Sarath Fonseka has said he now aims to defeat the rebels by the end of the year. | Sri Lanka's army commander Lt-Gen Sarath Fonseka has said he now aims to defeat the rebels by the end of the year. |
| The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983. | The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983. |