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Sri Lankan PM escapes assassination

Sri Lanka's Prime Minister has escaped assassination after his guards intercepted a suicide bomber who blew himself up and killed three other people in the capital Colombo.

Plain-clothed police deployed to protect Ratnasiri Wickremanayake were about to search the suicide bomber when he detonated explosives strapped to his body.

Mr Wickremanayake, who is also acting for President Chandrika Kumaratunga who is in London to support the international campaign against terrorism, was on his way to attending a ceremony at a nearby venue when the blast went off.

At least 18 people were wounded in the blast and eight vehicles were destroyed.

30/10/01 9:07:19 | ABC Radio Australia News

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