Two killed in Sri Lanka bombing

Military officials in Sri Lanka say two people have been killed in a suicide bombing by a suspected Tamil Tiger.

They said the two members of a rival group were on a motorbike in the eastern Batticaloa district when the bomber rammed into them on a bicycle.

There has been no official confirmation from the Tamil Tigers.

The incident comes two days after 18 people were injured in a bomb attack on a bus. The blast was blamed on the Tamil Tigers.

Separately, the Sri Lankan military said fighter jets bombed a suspected rebel camp on Sunday in the north-western district of Mannar.

There was no immediate report of any casualties.

There have been a series of blasts in Sri Lanka since the government pulled out of ceasefire last month.

Fighting has also been taking place on the front lines that surround territory the rebels control in the north of the island.

The government says the military has killed more than 1,000 rebel fighters in daily battles since the ceasefire ended, while 83 soldiers and police have died.

Last week, the International Red Cross said the number of civilians killed or wounded had reached "appalling levels", with 180 dead so far this year.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been fighting since 1983 for an independent homeland for Tamils, whom they say have been discriminated against by successive Sri Lankan governments.

Correspondents say that fighting between the two sides since then has killed more than 70,000 people.