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| Sri Lanka activist's home bombed | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| 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 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 bomb destroyed the car and damaged the home of Tiran Alles, an ally of Sarath Fonseka, the main election rival to President Mahinda Rajapaksa. | 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. | 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 - who led the army to victory over Tamil Tiger rebels in May - against President Rajapaksa who provided political backing for the offensive. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. |
| The attack has been condemned by the government, which described it as a "wanton act of violence". | |
| "Perpetrators of previous incidents are being brought to justice and those involved in this latest cowardly act will face the full force of the law," a statement from the presidential secretariat said. | |
| "We are wholly committed to ensuring a free, peaceful and democratic election in every part of our country. These isolated incidents will not be allowed to affect this goal." | |
| Violence | Violence |
| The vote is taking place amid heightened tension. | The vote is taking place amid heightened tension. |
| The vote is taking place amid increased levels of violence | |
| 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 BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says that monitoring groups blame the government side for most incidents of poll-related violence. | 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. | 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 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. |