World in brief: Violence heightens fears of civil war
Government forces bombed rebel Tamil Tiger positions Thursday after a pair of powerful mines ripped apart a civilian bus and killed 64 people in the deadliest attack since the two parties declared a truce four years ago.
The violence heightened fears of a return to civil war in this island nation, despite both sides’ insistence that their official cease-fire agreement remained in effect.
The rebels, known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, denied responsibility for the bus explosion. In a statement, the group accused Sri Lankan forces of orchestrating the attack.
However, the Claymore mines used in the attack were similar to those the rebels have deployed against the military in a series of attacks and counterattacks over the past several months.
KATMANDU, Nepal
First peace talks in 10-year insurgency
The leader of Nepal’s communist rebels held peace talks with the prime minister today, the first such meeting since the insurgency began a decade ago.
The rebel leader, Prachanda, and a deputy were escorted into the residence of Prime Minster Girija Prasad Koirala in Katmandu under heavy security, a Koirala aide said on condition of anonymity.
It was the first time a top leader has met with Prachanda, whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
“The meeting between the prime minister and Prachanda will center on settling major political issues,” Tourism Minister Pradeep Gyawali had said before the meeting.
MOUNT MERAPI, Indonesia
Two men die from volcano eruption
Two men who sought shelter from erupting Mount Merapi in an emergency bunker on the fiery slopes of the volcano were found dead Friday, officials said.
The men fled to the steel shelter on Wednesday while they helped to evacuate a village during a burst of volcanic activity. The bunker was later covered with up to 6 feet of red-hot debris.
Soldiers in fire-retardant clothing reached the men after digging through the debris with shovels and backhoes, said Widi Sutikno, head of volcano relief operations.
“The bodies were burned because of the hot temperatures in the bunker,” Sutikno said.
Merapi continued to spew scorching gas clouds and rock fragments early today, said a member of the vulcanology office.