The World : Tamils Kill 17, Wound 61

Suspected Tamil guerrillas launched attacks in the violence-torn northeastern section of Sri Lanka, killing 17 people and injuring 61, a Defense Ministry spokesman said. He said three separate bus explosions, an ambush of a military jeep and an attack on police who were escorting a fourth bus were all intended to disrupt a conference in the capital of Colombo, where President Junius R. Jayewardene outlined proposals giving the minority Tamils limited autonomy. Tamil separatists are fighting for an independent state in the mostly Sinhalese and Buddhist country of 15 million. Jayewardene, whose proposals do not address the question of a separate state, said further meetings will be held in mid-July.