Prevent Sri Lanka civilian casualties, says UN official

Colombo: The United Nations' top humanitarian official urged the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels on Thursday to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties amid heavy fighting in the country's civil war.

John Holmes was to travel to near the northern war zone Friday to discuss the conditions of more than 30,000 displaced ethnic Tamils currently in government-run camps south of the fighting and the plans for tens of thousands of others expected to join them in coming weeks.

Government forces have captured the main strongholds of the Tamil Tiger rebels in the north in recent months and cornered them into a small sliver of land on the island's northeastern coast along with tens of thousands of civilians.

"We are concerned about reports of heavy casualties to the civilian population" trapped in the area, Holmes told reporters after meeting with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. He called on both sides to avoid civilian casualties and appealed to the rebels to allow civilians to flee if they wish.

Human rights groups have accused the government of indiscriminate shelling in the war zone and have also accused the Tamil Tigers of using the civilian population as human shields and of shooting at many who have tried to flee.

Both sides deny the accusations. Verification of the reports is not possible because the war zone is sealed to independent journalists and most aid workers.

On Wednesday, at least 38 Tamil civilians were killed and 140 others wounded by government artillery attacks and air strikes, a top health official in the war zone said. Tamil parliamentarians have said more than 2,000 civilians have been killed in the fighting since December. The military denies targeting civilians.

Aid groups estimate that more than 200,000 civilians are trapped in the war zone, but the government says the number is about half that amount. Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Wednesday that his country is ready to help evacuate the civilians.