Premadasa's killer 'had nine back-ups'

Colombo - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas deployed nine back-up suicide bombers along a parade route, in case the rebel who blew up President Ranasinghe Premadasa botched his mission, the Island newspaper reported. Citing statements made to the police by a detained guerrilla, the paper said nine Tamil rebels wearing 'body bombs' had been at the May Day parade in Colombo. Premadasa was blown up by a Tamil with explosives strapped to his body. Reuter