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Sri Lanka attack causes carnage Sri Lanka attack causes carnage
(about 1 hour later)
At least 99 people have been killed in a Tamil Tiger suicide attack on a military bus convoy in northern Sri Lanka, the military says.At least 99 people have been killed in a Tamil Tiger suicide attack on a military bus convoy in northern Sri Lanka, the military says.
At least 100 people were hurt in a huge blast when an explosives-loaded truck rammed buses of troops, officials said.At least 100 people were hurt in a huge blast when an explosives-loaded truck rammed buses of troops, officials said.
In a BBC interview, the Tamil Tigers did not confirm or deny carrying out the attack, but said it was justified. In a BBC interview, the Tamil Tigers did not confirm or deny the attack - one of the biggest in two decades of conflict - but said it was justified.
The government has responded with air strikes against Tamil Tiger positions in the north of Sri Lanka. The government has launched air strikes on Tamil Tiger positions in the north.
The buses, targeted at a site near the town of Habarana, 190km (120 miles) north-east of the capital Colombo, were carrying unarmed navy servicemen on leave, the military said.The buses, targeted at a site near the town of Habarana, 190km (120 miles) north-east of the capital Colombo, were carrying unarmed navy servicemen on leave, the military said.
The incident comes after at least 129 Sri Lanka soldiers were killed and 300 injured in fighting on Wednesday - the worst single day of casualties for the military since a ceasefire was signed in 2002.The incident comes after at least 129 Sri Lanka soldiers were killed and 300 injured in fighting on Wednesday - the worst single day of casualties for the military since a ceasefire was signed in 2002.
Correspondents say the violence could derail peace talks due to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, at the end of the month.Correspondents say the violence could derail peace talks due to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, at the end of the month.
'Cowardly''Cowardly'
The government has blamed the Tamil Tigers for Monday's attack, with a senior government minister calling it a "barbaric terrorist attack".The government has blamed the Tamil Tigers for Monday's attack, with a senior government minister calling it a "barbaric terrorist attack".
SRI LANKA'S DESCENT TO VIOLENCE 16 October 2006: At least 99 people including navy personnel are killed in a suicide attack on a convoy11 October 2006: 129 soldiers killed in fighting between army and the Tamil Tigers4 September 2006: Troops take control of a crucial area near the north-eastern town of Trincomalee held by the Tamil Tigers7 August 2006: Seventeen local employees of a French charity shot dead in the town of Muttur26 June 2006: A suspected suicide bomber kills a top Sri Lankan general near Colombo15 June 2006: At least 64 people - many of them children - are killed in a mine attack on a Sri Lankan bus Witnesses: 'Chaotic scenes' href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6045866.stm" class="">Military's 'bloody nose' "We are still pulling bodies from the wreckage," army spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe told the BBC. SRI LANKA'S DESCENT TO VIOLENCE 16 October 2006: 99 killed in suicide attack on navy convoy11 October 2006: 129 soldiers die in fighting between army and Tamil Tigers4 September 2006: Troops take control of a crucial area near Trincomalee7 August 2006: 17 local employees of a French charity shot dead in the town of Muttur26 June 2006: A suspected suicide bomber kills a top Sri Lankan general near Colombo15 June 2006: At least 64 - many children - die in mine attack on Sri Lankan bus Witnesses: 'Chaotic scenes' href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6056212.stm" class="">In pictures: Convoy blast href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/2405347.stm" class="">Q&A: Sri Lanka crisis
A number of civilians were reported to have been caught up in the blast. The defence ministry said more than 340 navy personnel were present at the site when the 24-bus convoy was attacked.
"Suicide bombers drove a truck packed with explosives into the area where there were about 15 buses of sailors," a police official in the nearby town of Sigiriya told the AFP news agency. Several civilians, including tea vendors working at the site, may have been among the casualties, local police said.
A spokesman for President Mahinda Rajapakse described the attack as "another example of the Tamil Tigers' cowardly use of extreme violence against unarmed services personnel". A spokesman for President Mahinda Rajapakse described the attack as "cowardly", pointing out that it took place "in a civilian area away from the area of armed confrontation".
The spokesman said the attack happened "in a civilian area away from the area of armed confrontation".
He said it was "significant" that the attack took place as foreign envoys were stepping up diplomatic efforts ahead of the forthcoming Geneva talks.
The military launched air strikes against Tamil Tiger positions in the north of Sri Lanka, a military spokesman said.The military launched air strikes against Tamil Tiger positions in the north of Sri Lanka, a military spokesman said.
But an air force fighter jet crashed in a lagoon about 30km (18 miles) from Colombo after suffering a technical fault, although the pilot ejected to safety, the military said. An air force fighter jet crashed in a lagoon about 30km (18 miles) from Colombo although the pilot ejected to safety, the military said.
Speaking to the BBC, the Tamil Tigers said the attack was justified, after accusing the Sri Lankan military of targeting Tamil civilians. Speaking to the BBC, the Tamil Tigers accused the Sri Lankan military of targeting Tamil civilians and said Monday's attack was justified.
A Tamil Tiger spokesman told Reuters news agency that Sri Lankan planes had bombed a village near the north-eastern town of Mullaitivu late on Monday and several civilians were feared killed.
Diplomatic effortsDiplomatic efforts
The blast comes shortly after Japan's peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi, met President Rajapakse in the capital, Colombo. The convoy attack comes shortly after Japan's peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi, met President Rajapakse in the capital, Colombo.
Nearby hospitals treated victims of the blast (Picture by Athula Bandara)Envoys from Norway and the US are due later in the week. Nearby hospitals treated victims of the blast (Picture by Athula Bandara)Later in the week, he is due to meet senior Tamil Tigers in the north of the island and envoys from Norway and the US are scheduled to arrive.
No details of the meeting between Mr Akashi and Mr Rajapakse have been released. Mr Akashi is due to meet senior Tamil Tigers in the north of the island later in the week. The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says that given the climate of violence, there is little optimism about what is likely to be achieved in the Geneva talks.
Japan is one of the key international donors to Sri Lanka. At least 2,000 people have been killed in violence this year in Sri Lanka, the military and ceasefire monitors say.
The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra, near Colombo, says that given the climate of violence, there is little optimism about what is likely to be achieved in the Geneva talks. At least 2,000 people have been killed in violence this year in Sri Lanka, the military and ceasefire monitors say.
Before the 2002 ceasefire, more than 60,000 people were killed in two decades of civil war.Before the 2002 ceasefire, more than 60,000 people were killed in two decades of civil war.
The Tamil Tigers are fighting for an independent homeland in the north and east of the country, and claim that ethnic Tamils have suffered decades of discrimination at the hands of Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority.The Tamil Tigers are fighting for an independent homeland in the north and east of the country, and claim that ethnic Tamils have suffered decades of discrimination at the hands of Sri Lanka's Sinhalese majority.
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