DATE=1/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKAN BLAST (L-O) CQ
NUMBER=2-258481
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: At least 10-people have been killed and more
than 70-others injured by an explosion in Northern Sri
Lanka. Vandana Chopra has the details from Colombo.
TEXT: The Sri Lankan Defense Ministry says explosion
(Thursday) occurred in the main post office building
in the northern town, Vavuniya, 220-kilometers
northeast of Colombo. A defense ministry statement
says the bomb was placed inside a letterbox at the
post office.
The dead and injured include soldiers and police.
Vavuniya -- a Tamil-majority town -- is home to a
large government military base. The main police
station in Vavuniya is close to the post office.
No one has claimed responsibility for the blast, but
police officials blame the Tamil rebels who have been
fighting for a separate Tamil homeland since 1983.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened in Colombo
because of reports several suicide bombers have
infiltrated the city.
In the past month, Colombo has been the target of
three bomb blasts, killing more than 50-people and
injuring 200-others -- including President Chandrika
Kumaratunga. (SIGNED)
NEB / VC / WD/RAE
27-Jan-2000 08:47 AM EDT (27-Jan-2000 1347 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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