Toll in Colombo blast up

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, OCT. 30. The toll in Monday's suicide blast here rose to four as two more civilians died of injuries in hospital. A police inspector and a passer-by were killed on the spot when a suicide bomber blew himself up, when he was challenged by police in the Narahenpita residential area yesterday afternoon. A government release said 10 persons, including four policemen, were still receiving treatment in hospital.

With the police saying that the bomber might have been planning to target the Prime Minister, Mr. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, the ruling People's Alliance (PA) has once again alleged an understanding between the LTTE and the United National Party (UNP). The PA general secretary, Mr. D. M. Jayaratne, said after the blast that there was a ``secret pact'' between the two.

The President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, said from London, where she has gone on a ``working visit'' that the blast pointed to yet another attempt by the LTTE to destabilise democracy and reiterated that her Government would spare no effort to defeat terrorism, the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation reported today.

Mr. Wickramanayake and the acting President in the absence of Ms. Kumaratunga, said the incident exposed the links of certain political parties with the LTTE, the radio said.

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Section  : International
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