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Open warfare erupts in Sri Lanka
After weeks of escalating violence in a murky, undeclared war in the North and East of Sri Lanka, the Colombo government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have resorted to open hostilities. While the immediate trigger was a carefully-planned suicide bombing at army headquarters in central Colombo on Tuesday, the responsibility for the conflict rests squarely with successive Sri Lankan governments which for more than three years have refused to enter into meaningful negotiations.
Tuesday’s attack involved a female suicide bomber, dressed as a pregnant woman, who pretended to be visiting the army hospital near the heavily-guarded, high security zone. She waited for the arrival of army chief, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, and detonated her explosives, killing eight people on the spot and wounding 27 others, mainly military personnel.
While it has officially denied responsibility, there can be little doubt that the LTTE organised and authorised the attack. Suicide bombings have been the LTTE’s trademark. In all likelihood, Fonseka was targetted because of his public agitation for tougher measures against the LTTE. He was critically injured but survived the blast. The attack on the military headquarters in the country’s capital was designed to send a message that no one in the military or government is immune.
President Mahinda Rajapakse and the military immediately seized on the bombing as the pretext to launch air and artillery attacks on LTTE bases in the Sampoor area near the eastern city of Trincomalee. Another clash took place at nearby Muttur. There is no doubt that the attacks had been planned well in advance. The LTTE presence close to key strategic army and navy bases in Trincomalee had long been the subject of criticism in the Colombo press from military sources.
More
http://wsws.org/articles/2006/apr2006/sril-a27.shtml
While it has officially denied responsibility, there can be little doubt that the LTTE organised and authorised the attack. Suicide bombings have been the LTTE’s trademark. In all likelihood, Fonseka was targetted because of his public agitation for tougher measures against the LTTE. He was critically injured but survived the blast. The attack on the military headquarters in the country’s capital was designed to send a message that no one in the military or government is immune.
President Mahinda Rajapakse and the military immediately seized on the bombing as the pretext to launch air and artillery attacks on LTTE bases in the Sampoor area near the eastern city of Trincomalee. Another clash took place at nearby Muttur. There is no doubt that the attacks had been planned well in advance. The LTTE presence close to key strategic army and navy bases in Trincomalee had long been the subject of criticism in the Colombo press from military sources.
More
http://wsws.org/articles/2006/apr2006/sril-a27.shtml
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A night-time curfew has been imposed on the town of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka, after government air strikes aimed at Tamil Tiger rebels in nearby territory.
Peace monitors have travelled to the town in a desperate bid to save a truce weakened by a bomb attack on an army base and Colombo's retaliation for it.
The Tamil rebels said tens of thousands had fled "genocidal" air strikes - but that figure has not been confirmed.
Crossings between government and rebel zones in the north have been re-opened.
More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4951350.stm
Peace monitors have travelled to the town in a desperate bid to save a truce weakened by a bomb attack on an army base and Colombo's retaliation for it.
The Tamil rebels said tens of thousands had fled "genocidal" air strikes - but that figure has not been confirmed.
Crossings between government and rebel zones in the north have been re-opened.
More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4951350.stm
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