World | Other World Stories
Tamil Tigers gun down scores in east Sri Lanka
Tamil Tigers opened fire on farm labourers at a village in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province of Ampara, killing at least 12 people and injuring six others, the Ministry of Defence said.
- Bloomberg
- Published: 11:19 February 22, 2009
Colombo: Tamil Tigers opened fire on farm labourers at a village in Sri Lanka's eastern province of Ampara, killing at least 12 people and injuring six others, the Ministry of Defence said.
Members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, fighting for a separate homeland in the South Asian nation, stormed into Iginiyagala village late on Saturday and opened "indiscriminate small arms fire" on the workers, the ministry said in a statement on its website.
Police and soldiers are conducting a search of the village, which has been hampered because the rebels have laid mines, according to the statement. The LTTE wasn't immediately available for comment.
The army says it has driven the Tamil Tigers from their main bases since January into a 100-square kilometre region near the port of Mullaitivu in the northeast. The United Nations and international aid agencies say as many as 250,000 people have been caught in the fighting as the army closes in on the last base of the rebels.
Sri Lanka's "main concern is the safety of the civilians that the LTTE is holding hostage for their human shield," President Mahinda Rajapaksa told John Holmes, UN undersecretary- general for humanitarian affairs, who ended his visit to Sri Lanka on Feb. 21, according to the ministry.
"These civilians can be brought to safety if the LTTE lays down arms as we have repeatedly called on them to do," Rajapaksa said. "If this is done we will ensure that they are brought to safety."
Share this article
News Editor's choice
-
Africa segment at Dubai film festival
Productions feature interesting mix of genres tackling serious issues
-
Arafat death anniversary remembered
Palestinians mark five years since the death of leader Yasser Arafat
-
What to expect at the Dubai Airshow
We preview what types of aircraft to expect at the Dubai Airshow
