Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
February 2, 2008

Blast on Bus in Sri Lanka Kills 18
----------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B20DB7:A6F02AD83191E160363FC1C7B73469AAB3350E090FE6A6E8& Military blames
Tamil Tiger rebels for attack

Sri Lanka's military says an explosion on a civilian bus in the
central part of the country has killed at least 18 people and wounded
50 others.

The blast occurred Saturday in the the town of Dambulla, located about
150 kilometers north of the capital of Colombo. The bus was carrying
at least 100 passengers to the northern city of Anuradhapura to attend
a religious ceremony.

Authorities initially said about 20 people had been killed in the
attack.

There has been no claim of responsibility, but authorities say they
suspect Tamil Tiger rebels.

Sri Lanka's government formally pulled out of a 2002
Norwegian-brokered ceasefire with the rebels in January.

At least 70,000 people have been killed since the rebels began
fighting for an independent homeland in 1983 -- claiming
discrimination by Sri Lanka's majority-Sinhalese population. The Tamil
Tigers control much of the island's north.

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


.