The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Colombo

Sri Lanka's cease-fire deal ended Wednesday in a spasm of violence, as suspected Tamil Tiger rebels bombed a civilian bus, gunned down the fleeing passengers and attacked farmers as they retreated into the bush, killing 31 people.

The attack stoked fears that the official end of the six-year-old truce - largely ignored in recent years - would lead to even worse violence.

Separate ground clashes killed seven insurgents Wednesday, and on Thursday, air force jets bombed and destroyed a Tamil Tiger hideout near Kilinochchi, the rebels' de facto capital, the military said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said although the attack on the bus was timed to coincide with the government's official withdrawal from the cease-fire, it simply mirrored other attacks by the separatist group in recent months.