The US ambassador to Sri Lanka Robert Blake was wounded Tuesday in an artillery attack by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in eastern Sri Lanka, Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, who accompanied him told AFP.
WOW Hal I didn't hear about this just broke off the wires
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - The U.S. and Italian ambassadors to Sri Lanka were "slightly injured" when their helicopters were targeted by mortars fired by suspected Tamil Tiger rebels in the east on Tuesday, officials said.
The helicopters used by U.S. Ambassador Robert Blake and his Italian counterpart Pio Mariani had just landed in Batticaloa when several mortars landed close to the aircraft, said Sri Lankan government minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, who accompanied them.
"Both the ambassadors are fine and they have suffered slight injuries," Samarasinghe said.
Mariani needed medical care and was taken to the area's main hospital for treatment. The nature of his injuries was not immediately known.
The Sri Lankan Defense Ministry blamed the attack on separatist Tamil Tiger rebels, who are banned in the United States and in
European Union countries as a terrorist group.
There was no immediate comment from the rebels Tuesday.
The two ambassadors, accompanied by their staff and Sri Lankan officials, had traveled Tuesday morning to Batticaloa aboard two helicopters to attend a meeting about the development of the area, a hotbed of separatist violence.
"As their choppers landed mortars were fired by the Tigers," said Lt. Col. Upali Rajapakse, a senior officer the Defense Ministry's information section.
He said the diplomats already had gotten out of the helicopters when the mortars were fired. It was not immediately known how they sustained their injuries.
Seven Sri Lankan security personnel who were on the ground also were wounded, Rajapakse said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070227/ap_on_re_as/sri_lanka_ambassadors_injured
And now that we are at it, the German Ambassador was also wounded.