The US and Italian ambassadors hurt in S Lanka attack
Pastor Dale Morgan
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*The US and Italian ambassadors** hurt in S Lanka attack*
The US and Italian ambassadors have been hurt in a mortar attack
launched by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in eastern Sri Lanka, officials
say.
Robert Blake and Pio Mariani were hit after getting off a helicopter at
an air base in Batticaloa, where they were to attend a development meeting.
Mr Mariani received hospital treatment for head wounds. Mr Blake had
minor injuries and flew back to Colombo.
The Tigers said they were responding to a government artillery attack.
Condemnation
Sri Lankan human rights minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, who was
travelling with the two ambassadors and several other diplomats, was
unhurt in the attack, officials said.
The incident happened shortly after the helicopter carrying the
diplomats landed at Batticaloa. Mortars fired from long range exploded
near the aircraft.
Sri Lanka map
At least nine Sri Lankan security force personnel on the ground were
hurt, in addition to a civilian.
"The government of Sri Lanka condemns this attack by the Tamil Tigers in
the strongest terms," Rohitha Bogollagama, who is accompanying President
Mahinda Rajapakse on a week-long visit to China, said in a statement.
"This is a reminder for the international community to take effective
measures to eliminate fundraising and weapons procurement by the Tigers
in foreign countries."
'Artillery attack'
But the head of the rebel's peace secretariat, Seevaratnam Puleethevan,
told the BBC that it is normal practise for the government to inform
them in advance if any foreign dignitaries are visiting conflict areas.
"This did not happen," he said, "in fact our forces were responding to
an army artillery attack at the time of the visit."
Injured security man in Batticaloa hospital
The Tigers say they were not aware of the high-profile visit
The government has admitted that it did not provide advance notice, but
military spokesman Upali Rajapaksa told the BBC that this was hardly
necessary.
"Bearing in mind the Tigers were sufficiently well-informed to target
the defence secretary in December as he moved about in Colombo, how can
they credibly claim not to be aware of such a high-powered foreign
delegation going to Batticaloa?" he asked.
Soon after the incident on Tuesday, Sri Lankan air force planes bombed
suspected Tamil Tiger positions in the east of the country.
In recent months government forces have driven the Tigers from large
areas in the east of the country.
The rebels have withdrawn to jungle areas and clashes are continuing, as
well as artillery fire.