3RD LEAD

7 killed as Colombo bomb targets military convoy

[TamilNet, Monday, 14 August 2006, 08:18 GMT]
Seven persons, including four special commandos of Special Diplomatic Security Unit, providing VVIP escort to the vehicle of Pakistani High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, were killed in a three-wheeler explosion that targeted the military convoy in the heart of Colombo city, on Flower Road in Kolpity, Monday around 1:25 p.m. Pakistani Ambassador was unhurt in the explosion, Police said.



19 persons, wounded in the attack, were rushed to Colombo national hospital.

Selected military commandos from the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) are assigned to serve in the Speical Diplomatic Security Unit responsible for VVIP security.

The Pakistani High Commissioner, Col (retd) Bashir Wali Mohammed, was a former director of the Pakistani Intelligence Bureau.

Wali Mohammed has earlier served as head of Intelligence operations in the Pakistani High Commission in Colombo during the 1990s.