Colombo - Tamil Tiger rebels blew up a military convoy in Sri Lanka yesterday, killing or wounding at least 40 constables and marking an escalation of ethnic bloodshed, military officials said. The separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ambushed the bus in the eastern coastal town of Batticaloa, killing 11 officers and wounding 30 others, according to local officials.
The defence ministry in Colombo said only nine were killed, and that 17 policemen were seriously wounded.
The attack was the third this week in the district of Batticaloa.