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| Sri Lanka 'suicide bomb kills 14' | Sri Lanka 'suicide bomb kills 14' |
| (4 days later) | |
| At least 14 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack in southern Sri Lanka, police say. | At least 14 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack in southern Sri Lanka, police say. |
| The telecoms minister was among about 35 people injured in the blast at the town of Akuressa, 160km (100 miles) south of the capital, Colombo. | The telecoms minister was among about 35 people injured in the blast at the town of Akuressa, 160km (100 miles) south of the capital, Colombo. |
| Government officials were attending a function at a mosque to celebrate an Islamic holiday at the time. | Government officials were attending a function at a mosque to celebrate an Islamic holiday at the time. |
| The defence ministry said the blast was carried out by Tamil Tiger rebels but no-one has yet admitted responsibility. | The defence ministry said the blast was carried out by Tamil Tiger rebels but no-one has yet admitted responsibility. |
| The Sri Lankan government has strongly condemned the attack. It urged people to remain calm and not to be provoked. | The Sri Lankan government has strongly condemned the attack. It urged people to remain calm and not to be provoked. |
| 'Ministers targeted' | 'Ministers targeted' |
| "An LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] suicide bomber has attacked a mosque at Godapitiya, in Akuressa, in the Matara district," the defence ministry said on its website. | "An LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] suicide bomber has attacked a mosque at Godapitiya, in Akuressa, in the Matara district," the defence ministry said on its website. |
| I heard a huge sound and then I saw people had fallen everywhere. They were covered with blood and flesh Ahamed Nafri, witness Bombing brings new fear | I heard a huge sound and then I saw people had fallen everywhere. They were covered with blood and flesh Ahamed Nafri, witness Bombing brings new fear |
| Sri Lanka's oil minister AHM Fowzie, who was at the site, told Reuters news agency the bomber appeared to have targeted six ministers as they walked in a procession toward the mosque. | Sri Lanka's oil minister AHM Fowzie, who was at the site, told Reuters news agency the bomber appeared to have targeted six ministers as they walked in a procession toward the mosque. |
| "This is an area where nobody expected a thing like this to happen," he said. | "This is an area where nobody expected a thing like this to happen," he said. |
| The ministers were attending a ceremony to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad when a bomber on a bicycle set off the explosion behind them, officials told the BBC. | The ministers were attending a ceremony to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad when a bomber on a bicycle set off the explosion behind them, officials told the BBC. |
| Post and Telecommunications Minister Mahinda Wijesekara was injured in the attack and is said to be in intensive care. | Post and Telecommunications Minister Mahinda Wijesekara was injured in the attack and is said to be in intensive care. |
| A helicopter has airlifted the critically wounded back to Colombo. | A helicopter has airlifted the critically wounded back to Colombo. |
| One witness, Ahamed Nafri, told Associated Press he was walking toward the mosque at the time of the blast. | One witness, Ahamed Nafri, told Associated Press he was walking toward the mosque at the time of the blast. |
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| Footage showed the moment of the attack | Footage showed the moment of the attack |
| "I heard a huge sound and then I saw people had fallen everywhere. They were covered with blood and flesh and the wounded people were screaming." | "I heard a huge sound and then I saw people had fallen everywhere. They were covered with blood and flesh and the wounded people were screaming." |
| The blast comes as Sri Lanka's military continues its operation to defeat the Tamil Tigers in the north-east. | The blast comes as Sri Lanka's military continues its operation to defeat the Tamil Tigers in the north-east. |
| Fears have been rising over the safety of civilians in rebel-held areas in recent weeks, with reports hundreds of deaths. | Fears have been rising over the safety of civilians in rebel-held areas in recent weeks, with reports hundreds of deaths. |
| A senior health official told the BBC Tamil Service that over 1,000 casualties were brought to a temporary government hospital functioning in the rebel-held village of Pudumatalan hospital over the last 10 days. | A senior health official told the BBC Tamil Service that over 1,000 casualties were brought to a temporary government hospital functioning in the rebel-held village of Pudumatalan hospital over the last 10 days. |
| Dr T Vartharaja said that 218 bodies were brought to the hospital in addition to 1,205 injured people since 1 March. | Dr T Vartharaja said that 218 bodies were brought to the hospital in addition to 1,205 injured people since 1 March. |
| Dr Vartharaja said that 277 injured civilians were brought to the hospital on Tuesday alone. | Dr Vartharaja said that 277 injured civilians were brought to the hospital on Tuesday alone. |
| "There were 66 children among the injured - and 45 people from those brought to the hospital earlier died today as a result of lack of medicine," he said. | "There were 66 children among the injured - and 45 people from those brought to the hospital earlier died today as a result of lack of medicine," he said. |
| He said sicknesses and diseases has been worse because of heavy rainfall over the last few days. | He said sicknesses and diseases has been worse because of heavy rainfall over the last few days. |
| On Tuesday the military said it had restricted the rebels to an area of less than 50 sq km (19 square miles) but that heavy fighting was continuing. | On Tuesday the military said it had restricted the rebels to an area of less than 50 sq km (19 square miles) but that heavy fighting was continuing. |
| Also on Tuesday, the government announced it had appointed the former deputy leader of the Tamil Tigers - known by his nom de guerre, Col Karuna - as a minister. | Also on Tuesday, the government announced it had appointed the former deputy leader of the Tamil Tigers - known by his nom de guerre, Col Karuna - as a minister. |
| FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| Vinyagamoorthi Muralitharan is the new non-cabinet minister for national integration and reconciliation. | Vinyagamoorthi Muralitharan is the new non-cabinet minister for national integration and reconciliation. |
| The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority in the north and east of the country for a quarter of a century. | The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority in the north and east of the country for a quarter of a century. |
| Government officials say they are confident the entire north-east can be brought under control soon. | Government officials say they are confident the entire north-east can be brought under control soon. |
| But the rebels have vowed to carry on their fight, and correspondents say the latest blast shows they have maintained their ability to launch attacks far from their traditional strongholds. | But the rebels have vowed to carry on their fight, and correspondents say the latest blast shows they have maintained their ability to launch attacks far from their traditional strongholds. |
| On 20 February, two planes belonging to the Tamil Tigers attacked Colombo, killing two people and injuring about 45. | On 20 February, two planes belonging to the Tamil Tigers attacked Colombo, killing two people and injuring about 45. |
| About 70,000 people have died in the conflict in the past 25 years. | About 70,000 people have died in the conflict in the past 25 years. |