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| Sri Lankan 'shelling kills 378' | Sri Lankan 'shelling kills 378' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| At least 378 people have been killed by continuing shelling from the Sri Lankan army in the past 24 hours, a health official has told the BBC. | At least 378 people have been killed by continuing shelling from the Sri Lankan army in the past 24 hours, a health official has told the BBC. |
| The doctor, working in the northern conflict zone, said 1,122 others had been injured - and more bodies were on beaches and by the sides of roads. | The doctor, working in the northern conflict zone, said 1,122 others had been injured - and more bodies were on beaches and by the sides of roads. |
| The army denies shelling the area, which the government has designated a "safe zone" for civilians. | The army denies shelling the area, which the government has designated a "safe zone" for civilians. |
| The claims are impossible to verify as reporters are banned from the war zone. | The claims are impossible to verify as reporters are banned from the war zone. |
| But the BBC's Charles Haviland, in Colombo, says a steady stream of information coming from the area suggests that civilians are being killed. | But the BBC's Charles Haviland, in Colombo, says a steady stream of information coming from the area suggests that civilians are being killed. |
| And he says health officials are convinced that the shells are coming from territory held by the Sri Lankan army. | And he says health officials are convinced that the shells are coming from territory held by the Sri Lankan army. |
| See a map of the conflict region | See a map of the conflict region |
| The pro-rebel Tamilnet website reported that the army began to fire artillery shells late on Saturday. | The pro-rebel Tamilnet website reported that the army began to fire artillery shells late on Saturday. |
| The site said as many as 2,000 civilians had been killed. | The site said as many as 2,000 civilians had been killed. |
| Dr V Shanmugarajah said he could not confirm that figure but said the makeshift hospital he is working in - at a school in east Mullaivaikal in Mullaitivu district - had so far taken in 378 bodies. | |
| He said 106 of those killed were children. | He said 106 of those killed were children. |
| 'Propaganda' claims | 'Propaganda' claims |
| Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the shells were being fired by Tamil Tiger rebels. | Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the shells were being fired by Tamil Tiger rebels. |
| "The radars detected the LTTE [Tamil Tigers] positioning their mortars south of the safe zone and firing from there," he told Reuters. | "The radars detected the LTTE [Tamil Tigers] positioning their mortars south of the safe zone and firing from there," he told Reuters. |
| "This morning, the radar detected two occasions of the LTTE firing to the safe zone to blame the military." | "This morning, the radar detected two occasions of the LTTE firing to the safe zone to blame the military." |
| Sri Lankan defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told the BBC reports of government shelling were "propaganda" of the Tamil Tigers. | Sri Lankan defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told the BBC reports of government shelling were "propaganda" of the Tamil Tigers. |
| He said there had been neither shelling nor air attacks on the civilian zone. | He said there had been neither shelling nor air attacks on the civilian zone. |
| He said the guerrillas were "holding people to ransom" in their area, and accused the rebels of killing nine civilians who were trying to escape their zone on Saturday. | He said the guerrillas were "holding people to ransom" in their area, and accused the rebels of killing nine civilians who were trying to escape their zone on Saturday. |
| Earlier, doctors said two hospitals were struggling to cope with the casualties, and that people were hiding in bunkers and many makeshift tents had been burnt. | Earlier, doctors said two hospitals were struggling to cope with the casualties, and that people were hiding in bunkers and many makeshift tents had been burnt. |
| They added that a government nursing officer was among those killed. | They added that a government nursing officer was among those killed. |
| The UN estimates that about 50,000 civilians are trapped by the conflict in a three-km-sq strip of land. | The UN estimates that about 50,000 civilians are trapped by the conflict in a three-km-sq strip of land. |
| The Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority since 1983. | The Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority since 1983. |
| More than 70,000 people have been killed in the war. | More than 70,000 people have been killed in the war. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| Are you in Sri Lanka? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Sri Lanka? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |