DATE=9/15/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SRI LANKA BOMB (L)
NUMBER=2-266539
BYLINE=STEVEN BARTHOLOMEUSZ
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A suicide bomb attack in the Sri Lankan capital
Colombo, Friday, has left five people dead and at
least 25 others injured. Steven Bartholomeusz has
these details from Colombo on this latest incident.
TEXT: Police officials say, a suspected Tamil Tiger
suicide bomber, carried out the attack outside Sri
Lanka's main eye hospital, and close to the offices of
the Minister of Health. Many of the injured were
rushed immediately to Colombo's national hospital,
next door to the scene of the attack
A military spokesman said it was unclear who the male
suicide bomber was targeting, but added an army
vehicle was passing by at the time of the explosion.
Police officials say they are investigating how the
incident took place. Eyewitnesses say the bomber
detonated the explosives during a routine body-check
by security officers at the entrance to the eye
hospital.
The suicide attack comes at a time when security on
the island-nation has been tightened ahead of General
Elections scheduled for next month. Police have warned
of possible suicide bomb attacks on government and
opposition members and their election rallies.
Last June, a suicide bomber assassinated Sri Lanka's
Industries Minister and 25 others in a Colombo suburb.
Another suicide bomber targeted an Air Force bus a
week later.
Authorities are blaming the Tamil Tiger rebels for
this latest attack. Though no one has yet claimed
responsibility, the rebels, fighting for a separate
state in Sri Lanka's North and East have often used
suicide bombers to assassinate government officials
and military personnel.
The government says more than 60,000 people have died
in Sri Lanka's 17-year ethnic conflict. The Tamil
rebels say the figure is higher. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/PFH
15-Sep-2000 03:28 AM EDT (15-Sep-2000 0728 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
