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S Lanka leader vows safe passage S Lanka leader vows safe passage
(31 minutes later)
Sri Lanka's president has promised safe passage for 250,000 civilians trapped by fighting in the north-east.Sri Lanka's president has promised safe passage for 250,000 civilians trapped by fighting in the north-east.
Mahinda Rajapaksa urged the Tamil Tiger rebels to ensure the free movement of civilians from the region.Mahinda Rajapaksa urged the Tamil Tiger rebels to ensure the free movement of civilians from the region.
The rebels have not commented but in the past have insisted the people want to stay to be protected by them.The rebels have not commented but in the past have insisted the people want to stay to be protected by them.
The UN says it is seriously concerned about the fate of trapped civilians. Rights groups and health officials say hundreds have been killed.The UN says it is seriously concerned about the fate of trapped civilians. Rights groups and health officials say hundreds have been killed.
Sri Lanka's defence secretary, Gotabaya Rajapakse, says the numbers are exaggerated and aid agencies are panicking.Sri Lanka's defence secretary, Gotabaya Rajapakse, says the numbers are exaggerated and aid agencies are panicking.
'Rights breaches''Rights breaches'
Mr Rajapaksa said the rebels were refusing to let the civilians leave.Mr Rajapaksa said the rebels were refusing to let the civilians leave.
See map of the region See map of the region
"I urge the [Tamil Tigers], within the next 48 hours to allow free movement of civilians to ensure their safety and security. For all those civilians, I assure a safe passage to a secure environment," he said."I urge the [Tamil Tigers], within the next 48 hours to allow free movement of civilians to ensure their safety and security. For all those civilians, I assure a safe passage to a secure environment," he said.
The BBC's Chris Morris in Colombo says there has been no response so far from the rebels and that communication with them is very difficult.The BBC's Chris Morris in Colombo says there has been no response so far from the rebels and that communication with them is very difficult.
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 S Lanka army in ghost 'Tiger' townRebel weaponry rendered uselessVoices from Sri LankaINSURGENCY 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 S Lanka army in ghost 'Tiger' townRebel weaponry rendered uselessVoices from Sri Lanka
He says displaced civilians who do manage to leave the war zone are held in government-managed camps to which there is no media access. He says that displaced civilians who do manage to leave the war zone are held in government-managed camps to which there is no media access.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has said she is extremely concerned about the well-being of people caught up in the fighting.The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has said she is extremely concerned about the well-being of people caught up in the fighting.
She said the situation could be worse than generally realised because of the restrictions to access to the war zone.She said the situation could be worse than generally realised because of the restrictions to access to the war zone.
Ms Pillay said there appeared to be "very grave breaches of human rights by both sides in the conflict and it is imperative that we find out more about what exactly has been going on".Ms Pillay said there appeared to be "very grave breaches of human rights by both sides in the conflict and it is imperative that we find out more about what exactly has been going on".
On Friday, the Reporters without Borders group also appealed to President Rajapaksa to allow local and foreign journalists to report freely.On Friday, the Reporters without Borders group also appealed to President Rajapaksa to allow local and foreign journalists to report freely.
The Red Cross says the humanitarian situation in the north-east "remains precarious for thousands".The Red Cross says the humanitarian situation in the north-east "remains precarious for thousands".
"Stocks have been depleted and sustainable ways of producing food locally have become almost nonexistent," it said."Stocks have been depleted and sustainable ways of producing food locally have become almost nonexistent," it said.
Heavy fightingHeavy fighting
On Thursday, aid agencies said they had evacuated hundreds of wounded civilians, including 50 critically ill children, to a hospital in the town of Vavuniya.On Thursday, aid agencies said they had evacuated hundreds of wounded civilians, including 50 critically ill children, to a hospital in the town of Vavuniya.
The pro-rebel TamilNet website quoted a rebel spokesman, S Puleedevan, as denying reports the rebels had initially prevented the Red Cross convoy from leaving.The pro-rebel TamilNet website quoted a rebel spokesman, S Puleedevan, as denying reports the rebels had initially prevented the Red Cross convoy from leaving.
Mr Puleedevan described the reports as "mischievous".Mr Puleedevan described the reports as "mischievous".
The military says it is involved in a final push against the retreating rebels.The military says it is involved in a final push against the retreating rebels.
It has captured the key towns of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and the strategically important Elephant Pass in recent weeks.It has captured the key towns of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and the strategically important Elephant Pass in recent weeks.
The BBC's Ethirajan Anbarasan is at Elephant Pass with the army.The BBC's Ethirajan Anbarasan is at Elephant Pass with the army.
He says he can hear artillery fire 15km (nine miles) to the south and has been told there is heavy fighting there.He says he can hear artillery fire 15km (nine miles) to the south and has been told there is heavy fighting there.
Our correspondent says commanders are confident the fighting will be over in the coming days - though they do not specify how long exactly it will take. They are upbeat and say rebel resistance is crumbling.Our correspondent says commanders are confident the fighting will be over in the coming days - though they do not specify how long exactly it will take. They are upbeat and say rebel resistance is crumbling.
He has been told another 10 rebels have been killed in the latest fighting, though this cannot be independently verified.He has been told another 10 rebels have been killed in the latest fighting, though this cannot be independently verified.
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