Suicide Bomb Rocks Sri Lankan CapitalA suicide bomber blew himself up October 19 and wounded 23 people, including three American women, shortly before Sri Lanka's president installed her new cabinet.The bomber died on the spot and 23 people were wounded, including three police officers and the three Americans, said Dr. Hector Weerasinghe,director of the National Hospital. He said two of the American women received minor injuries but he was worried about the third, who had a chest wound. The U.S.Embassy confirmed three Americans were injured,but gave no details. The bomber triggered explosives wrapped on his body after a police patrol challenged him near Town Hall about a mile from President Chandrika Kumaratunga's residence, Temple Trees. Colombo's main recreation park, popular tourist shops and office complexes are located nearby. Kumaratunga, whose People's Alliance won the Oct.10 parliamentary elections, had planned to install the new Cabinet at her home, which she seldom leaves because of assassination fears. She was blinded in the right eye by a suicide bomber on Dec. 18. The ceremony was transferred to Queen's House, her normally vacant official residence, nearly two miles from the blast site. Officials gave no reason for the last-minute change. Police said the suicide bomber was spotted on a road that cabinet members were expected to use to reach Kumaratunga's home, and they may have been the intended targets. |
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