COLOMBO - Tamil rebels are targeting civilians, with the latest attack killing 15 bus passengers and injuring 23 others in north central Sri Lanka, officials said yesterday.

COLOMBO - Tamil rebels are targeting civilians, with the latest attack killing 15 bus passengers and injuring 23 others in north central Sri Lanka, officials said yesterday.

The passenger bus heading from the north central town of Anuradhapura hit a claymore mine on Wednesday night at Abimanapura, 220km north-east of the capital Colombo. Most of the passengers were Sinhalese.

The attack, which came a week after rebels set off a powerful explosion in a crowded junction in Colombo that killed at least 20 civilians and injured 43 others, prompting authorities to step up security on buses and trains.

"We are taking maximum precautions in buses and told the staff to be extra vigilant at bus stations to prevent the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam planting any bombs," an official said. - Sapa-AFP