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| Sri Lanka convoy blast 'kills 90' | Sri Lanka convoy blast 'kills 90' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| At least 90 navy personnel have been killed in a Tamil Tiger suicide attack on a military bus convoy in northern Sri Lanka, the military says. | At least 90 navy personnel have been killed in a Tamil Tiger suicide attack on a military bus convoy in northern Sri Lanka, the military says. |
| Military officials told the BBC that they had already recovered 67 bodies near the town of Digampathana. | Military officials told the BBC that they had already recovered 67 bodies near the town of Digampathana. |
| 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 carrying out the attack, 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 responded with air strikes against Tamil Tiger positions in the north of Sri Lanka. |
| Officials say that at least 150 other people were injured in the attack. | Officials say that at least 150 other people were injured in the attack. |
| The military said the "huge explosion" occurred when a truck loaded with explosives rammed into a convoy of buses carrying navy servicemen on leave. | The military said the "huge explosion" occurred when a truck loaded with explosives rammed into a convoy of buses carrying navy servicemen on leave. |
| The incident comes as at least 129 Sri Lanka soldiers were killed and 300 injured 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 90 navy personnel are feared dead in a suicide attack on a navy 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 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: At least 90 navy personnel are feared dead in a suicide attack on a navy 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 Military's 'bloody nose' "We are still pulling bodies from the wreckage," army spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe told the BBC. |
| A number of civilians were reported to have been caught up in the blast. | A number of civilians were reported to have been caught up in the blast. |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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 "another example of the Tamil Tigers' cowardly use of extreme violence against unarmed services personnel". |
| The spokesman said the attack happened "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". |
| "It was significant that this attack took place as foreign envoys from Japan, the US and Norway were arriving here to discuss progress in the peace process and the upcoming talks in Geneva," he said. | "It was significant that this attack took place as foreign envoys from Japan, the US and Norway were arriving here to discuss progress in the peace process and the upcoming talks in Geneva," he 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 said the attack was justified, after accusing the Sri Lankan military of targeting Tamil civilians. |
| Diplomatic efforts | Diplomatic efforts |
| The blast comes shortly after Japan's peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi, met President Mahinda Rajapakse in the capital, Colombo. | The blast comes shortly after Japan's peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi, met President Mahinda Rajapakse in the capital, Colombo. |
| It was the first of a number of new diplomatic efforts ahead of talks due between the government and the Tamil Tigers at the end of October. | It was the first of a number of new diplomatic efforts ahead of talks due between the government and the Tamil Tigers at the end of October. |
| Norway's peace envoy, Jon Hanssen-Bauer, is due in the island on Tuesday. Richard Boucher, the US assistant secretary of state, is scheduled to visit on Thursday. | Norway's peace envoy, Jon Hanssen-Bauer, is due in the island on Tuesday. Richard Boucher, the US assistant secretary of state, is scheduled to visit on Thursday. |
| The diplomats will be hoping to help the government and the Tamil Tigers rebels reconcile their differences. | The diplomats will be hoping to help the government and the Tamil Tigers rebels reconcile their differences. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Japan is one of the key international donors to Sri Lanka. | 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. | At least 2,000 people have been killed in violence this year in Sri Lanka, the military and ceasefire monitors say. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected? You can contact us using the form below: | Are you in the area? Have you been affected? You can contact us using the form below: |