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Bus Bomb Kills 15 in Sri Lanka
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=15A80E8:A6F02AD83191E16080A8708056BB2A149574F7DCC14957C0 Sri Lankan
authorities blame Tamil Tiger rebels for attack





Soldiers inspect the wreckage of a bus in Meetiyagoda, Sri Lanka, 6
Jan 2007Sri Lankan authorities say a suicide bomber set off a blast on
a bus Saturday, killing herself and 15 passengers.

They blame Tamil Tiger rebels for the attack south of the capital,
Colombo.

Police say the blast wounded a number of other passengers. A senior
police official, Upul Ariyaratne, says local hospitals are treating 40
people.

The attack is similar to a powerful blast Friday on a passenger bus
north of Colombo that killed at least five people.



The military also blames that attack on the Tamil Tigers. A rebel
spokesman denies the group had any involvement in either attack.

Earlier Saturday, the military said Tamil Tiger rebels triggered a
series of roadside bombs in the north, killing four soldiers and a
civilian.

Authorities say the bombs exploded near a truck that was transporting
soldiers in the northern district of Vavuniya.

On Friday, Sri Lankan warplanes conducted air raids against Tamil
rebel positions in the north and east of the country for a fourth
consecutive day.

Violence continues in Sri Lanka despite a 2002 truce between the
government and Tamil rebels fighting for an independent homeland. More
than three thousand people died in the conflict last year.

The fighting is blamed for the deaths of some 67,000 civilians, troops
and rebels since 1983.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.


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