UN concerned for civilians in Sri Lanka conflict
The Sri Lankan army is looking to wrest control of the last remaining areas held by the rebel group in the country's north.
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Sunday, 01, Feb 2009 10:46
The United Nations (UN) has expressed concern over the safety of civilians trapped in fighting between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers.
The Sri Lankan government has captured major towns previously controlled by the Tigers and has given the rebel group 48 hours to free civilians trapped in the conflict zone in the country's north. Journalists and aid workers have been barred from going to the area.
There are fears for the safety of 250,000 people in the area amid the expiry of the government's deadline today. UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon has said the world body was ready to provide humanitarian assistance if required.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has warned diplomats and journalists that they could be expelled from the country if they presented favourable coverage of the Tamil Tigers.
The Associated Press cites Mr Rajapaksa, the brother of president Mahinda Rajapaksa, as telling a local paper that the ambassadors of Switzerland and Germany and television networks Al Jazeera, BBC and CNN were hurting efforts to combat the rebel group.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for an independent homeland since 1983 and more than 70,000 people have died in the conflict between the rebel group and the government.