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Blast on eve of Sri Lanka polls Blast on eve of Sri Lanka polls
(30 minutes later)
At least 12 people have been killed in an explosion on the eve of elections in eastern Sri Lanka, officials say. At least 12 people have been killed in a bomb blast on the eve of elections in eastern Sri Lanka, officials say.
More than 20 others were wounded in the blast in a cafe in the town of Ampara, 220km (130 miles) from Colombo. It is not yet clear what caused the blast. More than 20 others were wounded in the blast in a cafe in the town of Ampara, 220km (130 miles) from Colombo. Tamil Tiger rebels have been blamed.
Security is tight in the east of the island, a day before the region's first provincial elections in 20 years.Security is tight in the east of the island, a day before the region's first provincial elections in 20 years.
Fighting between troops and Tamil Tiger rebels has worsened this year after the government pulled out of a truce. Fighting between troops and Tamil Tigers has worsened this year after the government pulled out of a truce.
The director of Ampara national hospital, Dr Lankathilake Jayasinghe, told the BBC's Sinhala Service that 12 people had been killed and 24 were injured in the blast. Limited devolution
Military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara told the BBC that the explosion occurred at a small restaurant called the City Cafe hotel. The director of Ampara national hospital, Dr Lankathilake Jayasinghe, told the BBC's Sinhala Service that 12 people had been killed and 24 injured in the blast.
Military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara told the BBC that the explosion occurred at a small restaurant called the City Cafe.
He said the blast was clearlythe work of the rebels, or the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as they are known.
"Yes definitely, it's the LTTE," he said. "They havedone similar explosions in Colombo and its suburbs. This wasalso done by them."
Voters in the east coast towns of Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Amapara go to the polls on Saturday to elect the eastern provincial council.
The elections come after government troops drove the Tamil Tigers from their bases in the east last summer.
Fighting is going on in the north where the rebels have their main stronghold.
About 70,000 people have been killed since the civil war began in 1983. The rebels want an independent state for minority Tamils in the north and east.
The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says Saturday's vote will lay the foundation for limited devolution that the government says is the answer to Tamil complaints of domination by Sinhalese-led central governments.