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This is an archive article published on August 15, 2006

The day-before scare from Lanka

Sri Lanka8217;s Tamil Tigers killed seven people in an attack on a Pakistan embassy convoy today...

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Sri Lanka8217;s Tamil Tigers killed seven people in an attack on a Pakistan embassy convoy today, hours after a suspected rebel front threatened to bomb civilians in the capital and an air raid killed dozens.

The blast, less than a mile from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse8217;s residence, came hours after the Air Force bombed the grounds of a former orphanage in the North-East, which the rebels said killed 61 schoolgirls and injured 155.

8220;Definitely it8217;s an LTTE attack on the Pakistan ambassador8217;s car but they missed and the backup vehicle got caught,8221; a military spokesman said.

Why the Pakistan convoy may have been targetted remains unclear, although the High Commissioner told Reuters it could be because Islamabad backed Sri Lanka diplomatically. A Defence analyst offered other theories. 8220;Pakistan has been providing military hardware to Sri Lanka for some time,8221; he said, adding: 8220;I wouldn8217;t rule out mistaken identity either.8221;

8211;SIMON GARDNER

 

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