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Army: Sri Lanka War in 'Final Stage'

Tens of thousands of civilians trapped; UN envoy arrives

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted May 15, 2009 6:49 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Sri Lankan government claims to be within 48 hours of capturing the last holdout of Tamil Tigers, as the Red Cross warned of "an unimaginable human catastrophe" for the tens of thousands of civilians trapped in the war zone. Only a few hundred rebels remain in a two-mile-square mile patch on the island's coast. The government, despite denials, is reportedly shelling the region with heavy artillery, reports the BBC, while the rebels are using civilians as human shields.

Ban Ki-moon's chief of staff arrived today in the country for talks, and the UN secretary general himself may travel there soon. Several thousand civilians fled or attempted to flee the war zone yesterday, over land or through a shallow lagoon, but the government continues to refuse international demands for a ceasefire. Yesterday Hillary Clinton said the US would block an IMF loan to Sri Lanka "until there is a resolution of the conflict."

A Sri Lankan army soldier escorts a group of ethnic Tamil civilians who arrived in the government controlled area after leaving the Tamil Tiger controlled warzone, Thursday, May 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Sri Lankan Army, HO)

Injured Sri Lankan ethnic Tamils are seen lying on the ground following a shell attack at a make-shift hospital in Tamil Tiger-controlled no fire zone in Mullivaaykaal, Tuesday, May 12, 2009. (AP Photo)

In this photograph provided by the Sri Lankan army, Sri Lankan army soldier escort a group of ethnic Tamil civilians who arrived in the government controlled area after leaving the Tamil Tiger controlled... (AP Photo/Sri Lankan Army, HO)

Internally displaced Sri Lankan ethnic Tamil civilians wait at a makeshift hospital in Mullivaikal, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, May 13, 2009. (AP Photo)

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Army: Sri Lanka War in 'Final Stage'

Tens of thousands of civilians trapped; UN envoy arrives

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United Nations • civilian casualties • Sri Lanka • Tamil Tigers • IMF • civilians • Mahinda Rajapaksa • Ban Ki-moon • Sri Lankan Army • Tamils

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Army: Sri Lanka War in 'Final Stage'

Tens of thousands of civilians trapped; UN envoy arrives

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

United Nations • civilian casualties • Sri Lanka • Tamil Tigers • IMF • civilians • Mahinda Rajapaksa • Ban Ki-moon • Sri Lankan Army • Tamils

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Arab League, UN Struggle to Respond to 'War on Syrians'

Even worse is yet to come, fears Ban Ki-Moon

UN on Sri Lanka: Government Committed War Crimes

Military blamed for death of tens of thousands of civilians in 2009

After 26-Year War, Sri Lanka Struggles with Peace

Ethnic tensions remain as Tamil rebels lay down arms

EU Sold Millions in Weapons to Sri Lankan Army

European arms may have been used in civil war atrocities

Sri Lankan Shelling Killed 20,000 Civilians

Photos, UN documents reveal hidden massacre at civil war's end

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?