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Sri Lanka denies civilian crisis | Sri Lanka denies civilian crisis |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Sri Lanka's government has denied Red Cross and UN reports of a major humanitarian crisis in the north, where troops are fighting Tamil Tiger rebels. | Sri Lanka's government has denied Red Cross and UN reports of a major humanitarian crisis in the north, where troops are fighting Tamil Tiger rebels. |
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told the BBC that he had a policy of "zero" civilian casualties. | Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told the BBC that he had a policy of "zero" civilian casualties. |
The Red Cross believes that hundreds of civilians have been killed and hundreds of thousands more are trapped. | The Red Cross believes that hundreds of civilians have been killed and hundreds of thousands more are trapped. |
With aid supplies mostly blocked, the UN plans to make a new bid on Thursday to evacuate badly injured civilians. | With aid supplies mostly blocked, the UN plans to make a new bid on Thursday to evacuate badly injured civilians. |
See map of the region | See map of the region |
It will be the second time in three days that a United Nations convoy, trapped in the town of Puthukkudiyiruppu, will attempt to reach hundreds of critically wounded civilians, including at least 50 seriously injured children, the UN said from Colombo. | It will be the second time in three days that a United Nations convoy, trapped in the town of Puthukkudiyiruppu, will attempt to reach hundreds of critically wounded civilians, including at least 50 seriously injured children, the UN said from Colombo. |
It is seeking permission from the Tamil Tigers to cross the front line during a lull in fighting and ferry the injured to Ministry of Health hospitals in Vavuniya that can cope with their wounds. | It is seeking permission from the Tamil Tigers to cross the front line during a lull in fighting and ferry the injured to Ministry of Health hospitals in Vavuniya that can cope with their wounds. |
India has sought assurances that civilians trapped by the fighting in northern Sri Lanka will be protected. | India has sought assurances that civilians trapped by the fighting in northern Sri Lanka will be protected. |
At a meeting, Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee urged Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa - the defence secretary's brother - to expand "safe zones" for those displaced. | At a meeting, Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee urged Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa - the defence secretary's brother - to expand "safe zones" for those displaced. |
'Exaggeration' | 'Exaggeration' |
Gotabhaya Rajapakse said both the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UN were wrong about the situation in the north. | Gotabhaya Rajapakse said both the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UN were wrong about the situation in the north. |
INSURGENCY TIMELINE 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 19902002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire2006: Heavy fighting resumes2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7857247.stm">S Lanka army in ghost 'Tiger' town class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7856548.stm">India's dilemma in Sri LankaVoices from Sri LankaTamil diaspora voices "I'm not saying they are lying but they are exaggerating," he said. | |
He also ruled out any ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, saying it would give the Tigers a chance to reorganise. | He also ruled out any ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, saying it would give the Tigers a chance to reorganise. |
"The purpose of this offensive is to eradicate them," he said. | "The purpose of this offensive is to eradicate them," he said. |
The military say they are involved in a final push against retreating rebels. | The military say they are involved in a final push against retreating rebels. |
Moving north from the captured rebel town of Mullaitivu, they are trying to secure the north-east coastline to encircle the rebels and say they hope to control the entire north within weeks. | Moving north from the captured rebel town of Mullaitivu, they are trying to secure the north-east coastline to encircle the rebels and say they hope to control the entire north within weeks. |
The ICRC said earlier that hundreds of civilians had been killed and a quarter of a million people were trapped by the fighting. | The ICRC said earlier that hundreds of civilians had been killed and a quarter of a million people were trapped by the fighting. |
The ICRC based its figure of dead on body counts by its staff in local hospitals. | The ICRC based its figure of dead on body counts by its staff in local hospitals. |
It called on the government troops and rebels to allow immediate and free access to the combat zone for humanitarian workers. | It called on the government troops and rebels to allow immediate and free access to the combat zone for humanitarian workers. |
But Sri Lanka's Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights said it was the rebels who were preventing the evacuation of civilians, not government forces. | But Sri Lanka's Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights said it was the rebels who were preventing the evacuation of civilians, not government forces. |
It accused the Tigers of bombarding and killing civilians and suggested the Red Cross suffered from "either wilful ignorance or naivete" when it accused both sides of endangering civilians. | It accused the Tigers of bombarding and killing civilians and suggested the Red Cross suffered from "either wilful ignorance or naivete" when it accused both sides of endangering civilians. |
MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return | MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return |