Nine die in Sri Lanka bomb

At least nine people were killed when a female suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to her body at a military checkpoint in Colombo yesterday, police and witnesses said.

The explosion happened only hours after the Prince of Wales left the island following a four-day visit to mark Sri Lanka's 50th independence anniversary. Government forces had been on high alert for attacks by Tamil Tiger rebels during the anniversary festivities. A senior police official at the blast site said the dead included three civilians, including the bomber. Officials had originally put the toll at seven, but increased the figure after recovering body parts to do a final count.

- Reuters, Colombo