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One killed, 24 injured in LTTE suicide bomb attack

A suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam suicide bomber was killed and 24 people injured, including three American tourists, when a male suicide bomber blew himself up opposite the Town Hall, one of the city's main squares, minutes before President Chandrika Kumaratunga administered oath of office to the new cabinet.

Police said that a male suicide bomber, apparently waiting to target a senior politician or military official, blew himself up at 0930 hours IST when police personnel attempted to check him.

While the bomber was killed on the spot, a number of policemen and civilians, besides the American tourists travelling in a car, were injured.

The place where the blast took place was strewn with flesh and blood mainly that of the suicide bomber. The head of the bomber was recovered, police said.

One of the injured Americans, who was immediately rushed to the hospital, said she saw a convoy with heavily armed personnel pass through before the explosion took place.

Three of the five persons travelling in the car were injured, she said.

This was third time in this month, an LTTE suicide bomber missed his intended target and got killed.

Two suicide bombers, one in Colombo and another in Muthur in eastern Trincomalee district, killed themselves during the run up to October 10 general elections in which over 30 people were killed.

When the blast took place, top leaders of the ruling People's Alliance had gathered at the President's house to take oath as ministers.

The President's house is located about five km from Town Hall, where Chandrika had escaped a suicide bomb blast in December 1999, during the presidential polls.

Thursday's swearing-in ceremony went off without any hitches during which Chandrika administered oath of office to the new council of ministers.

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