U.S., Italian ambassadors 'slightly injured' in mortar attack in Sri Lanka, officials say
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  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.
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Les ambassadeurs des États-Unis d'Amérique et d'Italie au '''Sri Lanka''' ont été légèrement blessés lorsque leurs hélicoptères ont été visés par des mortiers sur un terrain d'atterrissage à Batticaloa. Les projectiles ont été tirés par les Tigres Tamouls, prétendent les autorités du pays.

L'ambassadeur américain Robert Blake a été indiqué comme allant bien, l'italien Pio Mariani souffrant quant à lui de blessures à la tête dues aux shrapnels. Ils avaient déjà atterri et étaient sortis de leurs appareils lorsque les explosions ont eu lieu.

Un porte-parole des Tigres Tamouls a indiqué qu'ils les ont confondus avec une cible militaire et à présenté ses excuses. Ils ont par ailleurs accusé les militaires, qui ont fait selon eux atterrir les diplomates sur une site utilisé pour attaquer les rebelles, ce même jour. 

Les ambassadeurs devaient effectuer une visite d'observation du développement des activités dans cette région qui a été récement reprise par les forces sri-lankaises.