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Eighteen dead in Tiger infighting, says Sri Lankan military
Apr. 30 (AFP) – At least 18 rebels were killed and many more wounded when Tamil Tiger guerrillas on Sunday launched a major attack against a breakaway faction in eastern Sri Lanka, military and rebel sources said.The battle was one of the bloodiest incidents in an escalation of violence in recent weeks that has severely […]
Sri Lanka refugees rise to 21,000: UN
Apr.30 (AFP) – Up to 21,000 people have fled their homes following the latest spike in violence in Sri Lanka’s northeastern district of Trincomalee, the United Nations said Sunday.A bomb attack on the main market in the town of Trincomalee, 260 kilometres (160 miles) northeast of Colombo, on April 12 killed at least 17 people, […]
Civilian casualties in Sri Lanka strike “minimal” — governor
TRINCOMALEE, Apr. 30 (AFP) – The governor of Sri Lanka’s Northeast Province has played down civilian casualties inflicted during military strikes on Tamil Tiger areas, saying they were lower even than those caused by one recent Tiger bombing. “Considering the amount of firepower, the collateral damage is minimal,” Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama said in an […]
Sri Lanka calls off May Day rallies amid suicide bomb fears
Apr. 30 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s main political parties have agreed to call off May Day rallies scheduled for Monday because of fears that large gatherings could attract suicide bombers, a government minister said.Plan Implementation Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said there was a consensus among political parties to avoid large meetings after a female suicide bomber […]
India’s Jet Airways yearly profit jumps 15 percent
MUMBAI, Apr. 29 (AFP) – Jet Airways, India’s largest private airline, said Saturday full-year net earnings rose 15 percent on air-traffic growth and profit from the sale and leaseback of planes.For the year ended March 31, the airline reported net profit of 4.5 billion rupees (101 million dollars).Full-year revenues rose 39 percent to 61.4 billion […]
Indonesia’s Mount Merapi acts up but no eruption yet
JAKARTA, Apr. 29 (AFP) – Volcanic rocks have tumbled down from the peak of Indonesia’s rumbling Mount Merapi volcano but its “standby” status remains unchanged, a vulcanologist said Saturday.The avalanche of rocks created a thin layer of dust that fell on two hamlets located on the western slope of the 2,914-meter (9,560-foot) volcano Friday, said […]
‘s Jet Airways yearly profit jumps 15 percent
MUMBAI, Apr. 29 (AFP) – Jet Airways, India’s largest private airline, said Saturday full-year net earnings rose 15 percent on air-traffic growth and profit from the sale and leaseback of planes.For the year ended March 31, the airline reported net profit of 4.5 billion rupees (101 million dollars).Full-year revenues rose 39 percent to 61.4 billion […]
‘s Mount Merapi acts up but no eruption yet
JAKARTA, Apr. 29 (AFP) – Volcanic rocks have tumbled down from the peak of Indonesia’s rumbling Mount Merapi volcano but its “standby” status remains unchanged, a vulcanologist said Saturday.The avalanche of rocks created a thin layer of dust that fell on two hamlets located on the western slope of the 2,914-meter (9,560-foot) volcano Friday, said […]
Leaders try to defuse tension in northeastern Sri Lanka
TRINCOMALEE, Apr. 29 (AFP) – Community leaders met in this northeastern Sri Lankan port town Saturday in a bid to defuse tension and suspicion between Sinhalese and Tamils following the bombing of a busy market that killed 17 people. “Trincomalee has always been a power-game area,” he said. “Various groups play their power games here. […]
Sri Lankan air strikes violated truce: monitors
Apr. 29 (AFP) – Sri Lanka violated a ceasefire with Tamil Tiger rebels by launching air strikes this week, foreign truce monitors said Saturday, expressing fears government forces had also been involved in extrajudicial killings. The strikes conducted on Tiger targets in northeastern Trincomalee district on Tuesday and Wednesday “are a clear violation of the […]