New York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern
Friday that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were keeping
civilians in a conflict zone against their will and called for their
freedom.
'While some have been able to leave or escape, reliable reports
indicate that the LTTE have prevented others from leaving, including
firing at them,' Ban said in a statement, adding that civilians have
suffered heavy casualties.
'The severe restrictions of the LTTE on their freedom of movement
violate international law,' he said.
Ban also deplored that the LTTE forced recruitment of civilians,
including children, in its fight against the government. He also
urged the government to meet its responsibility of protecting
civilians.
The UN said thousands of civilians remain trapped in the Vanni
region and are facing heavy risk and casualties.
Earlier Friday, military officials in Sri Lanka said at least 37
rebels were killed as government troops sought to capture the last
remaining rebel-held territory there. Police commandos shot dead
13 more rebels in the south-east, military officials said.
The LTTE has been fighting for more than 25 years for a separate
state for the Tamil ethnic minority in the northern and eastern parts
of majority-Sinhalese Sri Lanka.
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