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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UN fears for Sri Lanka civilians | UN fears for Sri Lanka civilians |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The United Nations says it is "deeply concerned" over indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas by the Sri Lankan army and Tamil Tiger rebels. | The United Nations says it is "deeply concerned" over indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas by the Sri Lankan army and Tamil Tiger rebels. |
| An estimated 30,000 people, mostly Tamils, are trapped in the eastern district of Batticaloa as fighting rages between the two sides. | An estimated 30,000 people, mostly Tamils, are trapped in the eastern district of Batticaloa as fighting rages between the two sides. |
| Officially neither side has formally declared an end to a 2002 ceasefire. | Officially neither side has formally declared an end to a 2002 ceasefire. |
| More than 1,200 civilians have been killed and thousands have fled the fighting this year, say truce monitors. | More than 1,200 civilians have been killed and thousands have fled the fighting this year, say truce monitors. |
| Sri Lanka's air force carried out further bombing raids in Batticaloa district on Tuesday morning, the military said. | |
| Stop shelling | Stop shelling |
| "The United Nations is deeply concerned about indiscriminate shelling of civilian residential areas, leading to death, injuries and evacuation of communities out of danger zones," Amin Awad, acting UN resident representative and humanitarian co-ordinator, said in a statement. | "The United Nations is deeply concerned about indiscriminate shelling of civilian residential areas, leading to death, injuries and evacuation of communities out of danger zones," Amin Awad, acting UN resident representative and humanitarian co-ordinator, said in a statement. |
| "All fundamental rights are currently being breached in areas like Vakarai and villages in Trincomalee district. The critical need of the moment is the protection of these desperate civilians." | "All fundamental rights are currently being breached in areas like Vakarai and villages in Trincomalee district. The critical need of the moment is the protection of these desperate civilians." |
| He added that "it is imperative that direct shelling where civilians reside stops and the civilian population must be granted full and unhindered freedom of movement, away from military operations." | He added that "it is imperative that direct shelling where civilians reside stops and the civilian population must be granted full and unhindered freedom of movement, away from military operations." |
| The UN statement follows fierce fighting between the Sri Lankan army and the rebels in the east of the country. | The UN statement follows fierce fighting between the Sri Lankan army and the rebels in the east of the country. |
| Observers monitoring a 2002 ceasefire which is now in tatters say the lives of thousands of innocent civilians are in jeopardy. | Observers monitoring a 2002 ceasefire which is now in tatters say the lives of thousands of innocent civilians are in jeopardy. |
| The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has evacuated 30 wounded civilians, including seven children, from Vakarai, to hospitals in safer areas on Monday. | The International Committee of the Red Cross says it has evacuated 30 wounded civilians, including seven children, from Vakarai, to hospitals in safer areas on Monday. |
| Meanwhile, the army says it is continuing its operations against the rebels. The offensive follows fighting at the weekend in which thousands of civilians were displaced. | Meanwhile, the army says it is continuing its operations against the rebels. The offensive follows fighting at the weekend in which thousands of civilians were displaced. |
| Both sides say they have inflicted heavy casualties on each other, but correspondents say it is impossible to get independent verification. | Both sides say they have inflicted heavy casualties on each other, but correspondents say it is impossible to get independent verification. |
| Civilians hit | Civilians hit |
| "Sri Lankan army troops undertook a limited operation in the Eastern Province on Monday morning to neutralise the Tamil Tigers' heavy artillery and mortar positions," a statement from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence said. | "Sri Lankan army troops undertook a limited operation in the Eastern Province on Monday morning to neutralise the Tamil Tigers' heavy artillery and mortar positions," a statement from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence said. |
| Both sides say they have inflicted heavy casualties on each other | Both sides say they have inflicted heavy casualties on each other |
| It said that two "enemy" gun positions had been destroyed. | It said that two "enemy" gun positions had been destroyed. |
| The army says that 12 soldiers have been killed in the recent fighting, along with 40 rebels. | The army says that 12 soldiers have been killed in the recent fighting, along with 40 rebels. |
| But the Tigers say that at least 30 soldiers have been killed, with their side losing only three men. | But the Tigers say that at least 30 soldiers have been killed, with their side losing only three men. |
| Both sides agree that thousands of civilians have been killed, injured or displaced in the latest confrontations. | Both sides agree that thousands of civilians have been killed, injured or displaced in the latest confrontations. |
| Talks in Geneva in October between the two sides ended in deadlock, and correspondents say that the fighting looks set to continue. | Talks in Geneva in October between the two sides ended in deadlock, and correspondents say that the fighting looks set to continue. |
| The rebels want independence for the 2.5m-strong minority Tamil community in the north and east of the country. | The rebels want independence for the 2.5m-strong minority Tamil community in the north and east of the country. |
| At least 3,400 people have been killed in the conflict in the past year, the government says. More than 65,000 lives have been lost since 1972. | At least 3,400 people have been killed in the conflict in the past year, the government says. More than 65,000 lives have been lost since 1972. |