Eight dead, scores hurt in Lanka train bombing

Colombo: At least eight people were killed and scores injured on Monday in the bombing of a packed commuter train by suspected Tamil rebels in a suburb of the Sri Lankan capital, officials said.

Hospital officials said eight bodies had been recovered, among them five women, and that more than 72 people were being treated, mostly for burns.

The military has blamed the rebel Tamil Tigers for the attack, and further investigations are underway.

State television said about 200 people were on board the train at the time of the bombing, which occurred at Dehiwela railway station in the southern suburbs of Colombo.

Over the weekend, three bombs were found on commuter buses and defused. Earlier in the day, police had told bus and train passengers to be vigilant.

Colombo has been hit by a string of bombings against both civilian and security targets in recent months, with authorities pointing the finger at Tamil Tiger rebels.

There was no immediate comment from the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Fighting has escalated in Sri Lanka since the start of the year, when the government pulled out of a Norwegian-brokered truce with the Tamil Tigers.

Last week, the LTTE accused an army "Deep Penetration Unit" of killing 20 Tamil civilians in fragmentation mine attacks in the north. Such allegations are regularly followed by bombings in the south.

The defence ministry said 21 guerrillas and one soldier had died in continuing ground battles.