Thursday, June 15, 2006

Sri Lanka attacks Tigers after bus blast

Claymore mines killed 64 people on a bus near the government-controlled town of Anuradhapura Thursday prompting raids on Tamil Tiger positions.

The Tigers, for their part, denied any involvement in the bus attack, but the government and media nonetheless believe the rebel group is involved.

Tamil rebels patrol in an armed truck on May 16, 2006 near Kilinochchi.
Tamil rebels patrol in an armed truck on May 16, 2006 near Kilinochchi. Reuters photo from Yahoo News.

Sri Lankan jets and artillery pounded targets near Kilinochchi, the headquarters for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

"If they are attacking Kilinochchi, they are showing they are ready for war," Tiger peace secretariat S. Puleedevan told Reuters.

The situation in Sri Lanka continues to deteriorate despite efforts by foreign peace negotiators.