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| S Lanka hospital hit in fighting | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| At least two people were killed after a hospital in northern Sri Lanka was shelled in clashes between government and rebels, the Red Cross has said. | |
| A Red Cross spokesman said he was "shocked" that the hospital had been hit, for the second time in weeks. | |
| The hospital is situated in an enclave held by the Tamil Tiger rebels and home to tens of thousands of civilians. | |
| The Sri Lankan military says it will move to "liberate" the civilians after a truce to allow them to leave expired. | |
| Meanwhile, the government has warned it will expel diplomats, aid agencies and journalists it deems biased in favour of the Tamil Tigers. | Meanwhile, the government has warned it will expel diplomats, aid agencies and journalists it deems biased in favour of the Tamil Tigers. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| The agencies say the people are facing a desperate situation, with hundreds killed in combat in recent days and food supplies running low. | The agencies say the people are facing a desperate situation, with hundreds killed in combat in recent days and food supplies running low. |
| 'Wounded are protected' | |
| The Red Cross said in a statement that the Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital in Vanni region received two direct hits. | |
| "We're shocked that the hospital was hit, and this for the second time in recent weeks," said Paul Castella, head of the Colombo delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). | |
| 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 Fears over Sri Lanka war childrenVoices from Sri LankaTami rebels without the wherewithal | |
| "Wounded and sick people, medical personnel and medical facilities are all protected by international humanitarian law. Under no circumstance may they be directly attacked." | |
| The hospital, which has some 500 inpatients, is one of the few still operating in the region. | |
| An army offensive has pushed the rebels into a 300 sq km (110 sq mile) corner of jungle in the north-east of the island, which aid agencies say also holds 250,000 civilians. | |
| The government says the number of civilians is closer to 120,000 and that the army has a policy of not firing at civilians. | The government says the number of civilians is closer to 120,000 and that the army has a policy of not firing at civilians. |
| It accuses the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of not allowing civilians to leave, saying they are being used as human shields. | |
| The rebels say the civilians prefer to stay where they are under Tamil Tiger "protection". | The rebels say the civilians prefer to stay where they are under Tamil Tiger "protection". |
| The reports cannot be independently confirmed as neither side allows journalists near the war zone. | |
| 'Utmost care' | 'Utmost care' |
| Officials said about 300 civilians had crossed into government-held territory during the 48-hour truce, which expired late Saturday. | Officials said about 300 civilians had crossed into government-held territory during the 48-hour truce, which expired late Saturday. |
| "We will now have to save the civilians and move in," the spokesman, Kaheliya Rambukwella, said. | "We will now have to save the civilians and move in," the spokesman, Kaheliya Rambukwella, said. |
| "It is now very evident that [Tamil Tiger leader Valupillai] Prabhakaran is... using civilians as cover," Mr Rambukwella said. | "It is now very evident that [Tamil Tiger leader Valupillai] Prabhakaran is... using civilians as cover," Mr Rambukwella said. |
| "We will take the utmost care of civilians when we move in." | "We will take the utmost care of civilians when we move in." |
| The military has captured the key towns of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and the strategically important Elephant Pass to the Jaffna peninsula in recent weeks. | The military has captured the key towns of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and the strategically important Elephant Pass to the Jaffna peninsula in recent weeks. |
| The BBC's Ethirajan Anbarasan has been in the city of Jaffna on one of the first government-approved media trips to the city - the cultural capital of Sri Lanka's Tamil community - in months. | The BBC's Ethirajan Anbarasan has been in the city of Jaffna on one of the first government-approved media trips to the city - the cultural capital of Sri Lanka's Tamil community - in months. |
| He said thousands of people had attended a rally held by a pro-government Tamil party calling for the rebels to allow civilians to leave the war zone. | He said thousands of people had attended a rally held by a pro-government Tamil party calling for the rebels to allow civilians to leave the war zone. |
| Meanwhile a senior government official warned that diplomats, aid agencies and media, including the BBC, will be expelled from Sri Lanka if they seem to favour the Tamil Tiger rebels. | Meanwhile a senior government official warned that diplomats, aid agencies and media, including the BBC, will be expelled from Sri Lanka if they seem to favour the Tamil Tiger rebels. |
| Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said bias among some foreigners was damaging security forces as they dealt the "final blow" to the rebels. | Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa said bias among some foreigners was damaging security forces as they dealt the "final blow" to the rebels. |
| MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return | MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return |