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Blast targets Sri Lanka activist Blast targets Sri Lanka activist
(about 4 hours later)
There has been an explosion at the home of an opposition activist in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, days ahead of a presidential election, police say. The home of an opposition activist has been attacked with a petrol bomb in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, days ahead of a presidential election, police say.
The blast destroyed the car and damaged the home of Tiran Alles, an ally of candidate Gen Sarath Fonseka. Mr Alles and his family escaped unhurt. The bomb destroyed the car and damaged the home of Tiran Alles, an ally of Sarath Fonseka, the main election rival to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Mr Alles, a businessman, escaped unhurt with his family.
Earlier this week the United Nations expressed concern over escalating violence ahead of the 26 January poll.Earlier this week the United Nations expressed concern over escalating violence ahead of the 26 January poll.
The vote pits Sri Lanka's ex-army chief against President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The vote pits Sri Lanka's ex-army chief - who led the army to victory over Tamil Tiger rebels in May - against President Rajapaksa who provided political backing for the offensive.
Gen Sarath Fonseka resigned from his post as chief of defence staff in November following differences with the government over who should take credit for defeating the Tamil Tiger rebels last May. Gen Fonseka resigned from his post as chief of defence staff in November following differences with the government over who should take credit for defeating the rebels.
As the election campaign draws to a close, so violence has increased.
"There was an explosion at my house. Somebody threw a bomb, and part of my house was burned and my car is in ashes," Mr Alles told the Reuters news agency.
ViolenceViolence
The vote is taking place amid heightened tension. Increasing levels of violence has marked the run-up to the election. The vote is taking place amid heightened tension.
At least four people have been killed in poll-related violence in the weeks leading up to the election.At least four people have been killed in poll-related violence in the weeks leading up to the election.
Sri Lankan groups monitoring the presidential election campaign say the levels of election-related violence and misuse of state resources are at their worst for at least 20 years.Sri Lankan groups monitoring the presidential election campaign say the levels of election-related violence and misuse of state resources are at their worst for at least 20 years.
Scores of people have also been wounded in the violence, with more than 20 instances of firearms used or deployed as a threat, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, of the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections, told the BBC.Scores of people have also been wounded in the violence, with more than 20 instances of firearms used or deployed as a threat, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, of the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections, told the BBC.
The Sri Lankan army defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels last May, ending 26 years of civil war. The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says that monitoring groups blame the government side for most incidents of poll-related violence.
Reports suggest the incidents are well-organised - featuring, for example, large gangs of armed men, or attackers armed with iron rods and assault rifles, our correspondent says.
The Sri Lankan army's defeat of the Tamil Tiger ended 26 years of civil war.
The rebels were fighting for a separate Tamil homeland.The rebels were fighting for a separate Tamil homeland.