Bomb attacks in Burma kill at least 9

By Deutsche Presse Agentur

Rangoon - A series of explosions on Thursday in old capital of Rangoon, Burma killed at least nine people and injured up to 62, police and hospital sources said.

Three blasts were reported in Mingalartaungnyunt township, near a popular lake in Rangoon, at 3:10 pm (0840 GMT), said a policeman who asked to remain anonymous.



The area was packed with people enjoying the Thingyan Pandal festival, marking Burma's traditional New Year.

Rangoon hospital officials told reporters that five women and four men died in the blasts, which injured 45 men and 17 women.

The blasts came while people were enjoying the Thingyan Pandal festival, believed to of Brahmin origin, which is accompanied by water splashing and the smearing of talcum paste on people's cheeks.

It comes at the peak of the hot season in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, which also celebrate their traditional New Year this week.

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