LTTE Terrorists bomb Two election rallies killing 31 and injuring over 180
| Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga was slightly injured Saturday
after an LTTE assassin detonated explosives strapped to his body at an election rally in
downtown Colombo. The blast occurred as the president's guards dragged away the suicide bomber. Fourteen people were killed, including a top police officer in charge of her security, and 110 others were injured. Minutes later, another bomb exploded at an election rally of the opposition United National Party, killing at least seven people and injuring 40 others, police said. LTTE terrorists are blamed for both bombings. |
Chadrika - Victim of the terrorist attack |
Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga was slightly injured Saturday after an LTTE assassin detonated explosives strapped to his body at an election rally in downtown Colombo.
The blast occurred as the president's guards dragged away the suicide bomber. Fourteen people were killed, including a top police officer in charge of her security, and 110 others were injured. Minutes later, another bomb exploded at an election rally of the opposition United National Party, killing at least seven people and injuring 40 others, police said. LTTE terrorists are blamed for both bombings.
Scene of the LTTE bomb attack
At least three senior ministers and some foreign journalists, including a Japanese television crew and a Reuters photographer, were among the injured at the ruling party's rally.
At least 10 bodies, including that of the suicide bomber, were still lying at the scene of the blast several hours after the explosion. A fireworks display was taking place near the rally when the bomb exploded, witnesses said.
British Foreign Minister Robin Cook condemned the explosions. "I am concerned by reports of injuries to the president. I wish her a speedy recovery. There is no place for violence in the democratic process. "It is essential that the forthcoming elections are held peacefully in an atmosphere free of intimidation and violence,'' Cook said. Ironically, the terrorist group who carried out the bombing have their international headquarters in London through which they raise funds for terrorist acts such as this.
Police arrested 15 people in an overnight swoop, a police source said. "Right now they are all suspects, we will do our investigation and then decide whether to free them or hold them for more questioning" said a senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Charred victims being carried away
The bomb that injured Mrs. Kumaratunga came, as she was about to get into her car outside Colombo's town hall after addressing a rally of her People's Alliance party ahead of Tuesday's presidential race.
"She is hurt, but she is out of danger,'' government minister Batty Weerakoon said. "Her face was hit by the blast, but she is okay now.'' The president was admitted to a private hospital immediately after the blast. Doctors operated to remove shrapnel from her face, according to Hemasiri Fernando, the president's secretary. She also reportedly sustained an eye injury.
The blast at the rally of the main opposition party at Jaela, 9 miles north of Colombo, also was set off by an LTTE suicide bomber, police said. The president's main rival, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was not present at that rally.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blasts, but they were almost certainly was carried out by the LTTE terrorists who have been waging a blood terrorist campaign in Sri Lanka for over 25 years. LTTE are bitterly opposed to the re-election of Mrs. Kumaratunga.
In the past, LTTE suicide terrorist have carried out assassination of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa and several moderate Sri Lankan Tamil politicians and India's former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
"We have information that there are several suicide bombers in the city trying to create as much disorder as possible,'' said police officer A. Kamaldeen.
| In Colombo, the assassin, who had dressed himself like a woman in a sari, tried to embrace Mrs. Kumaratunga. Guards dragged him several feet before he detonated the explosive, an officer said. Police said they found parts of a man's body they believe was the suicide bomber. |  Victims being carried away |
Maya Mirchandani, a reporter for the Hong Kong-based STAR-TV said Mrs. Kumaratunga had paused for a minute to answer a question when the blast occurred about 15 feet away.
"She fell on the ground. I don't know how many security men fell on her,'' Ms. Mirchandani said.
Fireworks had been going off after Mrs. Kumaratunga ended her speech, she said. "But it was the smell of burning flesh and the sound'' that convinced them that it was a bomb blast, she said.
Police said Finance Minister G.L. Peiris and Transport Minister A. Mowlana were among the injured.
| Security commandos fired immediately and some journalists said at least
one photographer was injured. Ms. Mirchandani said two television journalists, including
one from NHK network of Japan, were wounded in the first explosion. Police and military soldiers set up roadblocks across Colombo and checked all vehicles. The government imposed an indefinite curfew in the capital. It was Mrs. Kumaratunga's last public address before campaigning ended at midnight. Some 11.5 million registered voters will choose the next president for a five-year-term in office. |
Commandos gurading the site |
Mrs. Kumaratunga is seeking a second term in office, saying she wants a renewed mandate to end the civil war. She is pitted against Wickremesinghe and 11 other candidates.
Mrs. Kumaratunga came to power in 1994 on a promise to end the war. A year later, she held talks with the Tamil Tiger terrorists, but the guerrillas broke off talks abruptly and called off the cease-fire. Since then, security forces have been fighting the terrorists.
