This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7867743.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka Tigers urged to end war | Sri Lanka Tigers urged to end war |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The US, EU, Japan and Norway have urged Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels to lay down their arms and discuss ending hostilities with the government. | The US, EU, Japan and Norway have urged Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels to lay down their arms and discuss ending hostilities with the government. |
| The nations said there remained only a short time before the Tigers lost the territory still under their control. | |
| Both sides "should recognise that further loss of life - of civilians and combatants - will serve no cause", the nations said. | Both sides "should recognise that further loss of life - of civilians and combatants - will serve no cause", the nations said. |
| The Sri Lankan government says it is close to defeating the rebels. | The Sri Lankan government says it is close to defeating the rebels. |
| Up to 250,000 civilians may be trapped by the fighting. | Up to 250,000 civilians may be trapped by the fighting. |
| 'Sovereignty' | 'Sovereignty' |
| Norway, Japan, the US and the EU are described as the Tokyo Co-Chairs, who sat at the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka in 2003. | Norway, Japan, the US and the EU are described as the Tokyo Co-Chairs, who sat at the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka in 2003. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| In a joint statement, they expressed "great concern" for the plight of civilians. | In a joint statement, they expressed "great concern" for the plight of civilians. |
| INSURGENCY TIMELINE 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 19901993: President Premadasa killed by Tiger bomb2001: Attack on airport destroys half Sri Lankan Airlines fleet2002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire2005: Mahinda Rajapaksa becomes president2006: Heavy fighting resumes2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Fear and defiance Voices from Sri LankaTamil diaspora voices They urged the rebels to "discuss with the government of Sri Lanka the modalities for ending hostilities, including the laying down of arms, renunciation of violence, acceptance of the government of Sri Lanka's offer of amnesty; and participating as a political party in a process to achieve a just and lasting political solution". | INSURGENCY TIMELINE 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 19901993: President Premadasa killed by Tiger bomb2001: Attack on airport destroys half Sri Lankan Airlines fleet2002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire2005: Mahinda Rajapaksa becomes president2006: Heavy fighting resumes2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Fear and defiance Voices from Sri LankaTamil diaspora voices They urged the rebels to "discuss with the government of Sri Lanka the modalities for ending hostilities, including the laying down of arms, renunciation of violence, acceptance of the government of Sri Lanka's offer of amnesty; and participating as a political party in a process to achieve a just and lasting political solution". |
| The nations also urged both sides to "declare a temporary no-fire period to allow for evacuation of sick and wounded, and provision of aid to civilians". | The nations also urged both sides to "declare a temporary no-fire period to allow for evacuation of sick and wounded, and provision of aid to civilians". |
| The Sri Lankan government has previously ruled out any ceasefire and has vowed to crush the rebels. | The Sri Lankan government has previously ruled out any ceasefire and has vowed to crush the rebels. |
| The Tigers have said they will not lay down their arms until they have a "guarantee of living with freedom and dignity and sovereignty". | The Tigers have said they will not lay down their arms until they have a "guarantee of living with freedom and dignity and sovereignty". |
| The Tokyo Co-Chairs said both sides "must respect international humanitarian law". | The Tokyo Co-Chairs said both sides "must respect international humanitarian law". |
| They said they would help transfer internally displaced people to humanitarian camps. | They said they would help transfer internally displaced people to humanitarian camps. |
| The statement comes amid reports of repeated artillery attacks on a hospital in Tiger-held territory. | The statement comes amid reports of repeated artillery attacks on a hospital in Tiger-held territory. |
| The Red Cross says the hospital in Puthukkudiyiruppu town in Mullaitivu district has been hit five times in the past few days, leaving at least 12 civilians dead. | The Red Cross says the hospital in Puthukkudiyiruppu town in Mullaitivu district has been hit five times in the past few days, leaving at least 12 civilians dead. |
| One strike was on a paediatric ward, it said. | One strike was on a paediatric ward, it said. |
| The Sri Lankan military has vowed to crush the rebels | The Sri Lankan military has vowed to crush the rebels |
| The government says it is not responsible for the attacks and has told civilians to leave the war zone. Pro-rebel websites blaming the army. | The government says it is not responsible for the attacks and has told civilians to leave the war zone. Pro-rebel websites blaming the army. |
| The hospital is one of the last functioning health facilities in the area. | The hospital is one of the last functioning health facilities in the area. |
| Sri Lanka's military says it has designated a safe zone for civilians in a 32 sq km buffer zone on the A-35 main road which links Paranthan and Mullaitivu. | Sri Lanka's military says it has designated a safe zone for civilians in a 32 sq km buffer zone on the A-35 main road which links Paranthan and Mullaitivu. |
| The zone is inside a gradually shrinking rebel enclave north of Mullaitivu. | The zone is inside a gradually shrinking rebel enclave north of Mullaitivu. |
| The Tigers are proscribed as a terrorist group by many nations, including the US and the EU. | The Tigers are proscribed as a terrorist group by many nations, including the US and the EU. |
| They started fighting in the 1970s for a separate state for Tamils in Sri Lanka's north and east. | They started fighting in the 1970s for a separate state for Tamils in Sri Lanka's north and east. |
| Norway has been a broker in previous rounds of unsuccessful peace talks between the rebels and Sri Lanka's government. | Norway has been a broker in previous rounds of unsuccessful peace talks between the rebels and Sri Lanka's government. |
| MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return | MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return |