S Lanka tells civilians to leave

[Joanne98]

Source: BBC

The Sri Lankan government has told civilians to leave an area where it is fighting Tamil Tiger rebels, saying it cannot guarantee their safety.

A statement said the battle in the north-east was at a "decisive stage".

It is unclear how the tens of thousands of people caught up in the fighting can escape. The rebels deny preventing people from leaving the area.

Earlier, the Red Cross said at least nine people were killed by shelling at a hospital in rebel-held territory.

"The government calls on all civilians to enter the demarcated 'safety zone' as soon as possible," the government statement said, AFP news agency reported.




Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7865190.stm

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Sri Lanka needs a boycott!

[shireen]

1. it's a complex situation

There's plenty of blame for both sides, Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan government. It's the innocent civilians caught in the cross-fire that breaks my heart. My grandparents came from Jaffna. Tho' I don't know personally know any of my distant relatives living there, it pains me to see this tragedy.

If anyone can afford it, you can donate to this and other humanitarian crises at the International Red Cross,
http://www.icrc.org