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Sri Lankan civilians found dead | Sri Lankan civilians found dead |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The funerals of 11 murdered Muslims have taken place in eastern Sri Lanka. | |
Their bodies were found after they had apparently gone to repair an irrigation system. Local Muslims have called for an inquiry into how the men died. | |
Hundreds of angry Muslims earlier gathered outside a mosque in Ampara where the bodies were displayed. | |
The government accused the Tamil Tigers of the killings, but the rebels have blamed the army, pointing out that they happened in a government-held area. | The government accused the Tamil Tigers of the killings, but the rebels have blamed the army, pointing out that they happened in a government-held area. |
Months of heavy fighting have displaced more than 200,000 people in Sri Lanka. Hundreds have been killed. | Months of heavy fighting have displaced more than 200,000 people in Sri Lanka. Hundreds have been killed. |
Both sides have condemned the latest killings, which took place in a remote part of Ampara district. | |
Friction | Friction |
The military says the civilian men had been working on a water project on Sunday. When they failed to return home, a team went to investigate on Monday morning and found the bodies. | |
Troops and rebels have fought fierce battles in recent months | Troops and rebels have fought fierce battles in recent months |
"They had gone to renovate a sluice gate and went missing. They have been found dead, hacked and chopped," an unnamed military spokesman quoted by the Reuters news agency said. | "They had gone to renovate a sluice gate and went missing. They have been found dead, hacked and chopped," an unnamed military spokesman quoted by the Reuters news agency said. |
Another man was injured, but survived the attack. | Another man was injured, but survived the attack. |
The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Ampara says that locals say there has been friction between the Muslim community and the Sri Lankan security forces. | The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Ampara says that locals say there has been friction between the Muslim community and the Sri Lankan security forces. |
Our correspondent says that many in the town accuse the Special Task Force (STF) of the killings, and now want the local police unit transferred immediately, along with a full investigation. | Our correspondent says that many in the town accuse the Special Task Force (STF) of the killings, and now want the local police unit transferred immediately, along with a full investigation. |
The STF have denied the allegations. | |
Sri Lanka's police chief is now in Ampara for talks with senior Muslim politicians, and our correspondent says that shows that the issue is being taken seriously. | Sri Lanka's police chief is now in Ampara for talks with senior Muslim politicians, and our correspondent says that shows that the issue is being taken seriously. |
Ampara district is home to a large number of Sri Lanka's Muslim minority - Muslims are the third largest community in the country after the Sinhalese and Tamils. | Ampara district is home to a large number of Sri Lanka's Muslim minority - Muslims are the third largest community in the country after the Sinhalese and Tamils. |
The Sri Lankan military is adopting its long tradition of blaming the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the atrocities it commits Tamil Tiger statement | The Sri Lankan military is adopting its long tradition of blaming the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the atrocities it commits Tamil Tiger statement |
Muslims have recently been caught up in the increasing violence between the government forces and rebels. | Muslims have recently been caught up in the increasing violence between the government forces and rebels. |
Tens of thousands were displaced from the north-eastern town of Muttur in July and August when fighting between the two sides forced them from their homes. | Tens of thousands were displaced from the north-eastern town of Muttur in July and August when fighting between the two sides forced them from their homes. |
Norway brokered a ceasefire between Sri Lanka's government and the Tamil Tigers in 2002 which is still technically in place, despite the violence. | Norway brokered a ceasefire between Sri Lanka's government and the Tamil Tigers in 2002 which is still technically in place, despite the violence. |
The two sides held a number of rounds of peace talks until the rebels pulled out in April 2003 saying they were being sidelined. | The two sides held a number of rounds of peace talks until the rebels pulled out in April 2003 saying they were being sidelined. |
The government and rebels did meet earlier this year for talks aimed at shoring up the ceasefire, but made no headway. | The government and rebels did meet earlier this year for talks aimed at shoring up the ceasefire, but made no headway. |
More than 60,000 people have been killed since the rebels began their fight the 1970s for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east. | More than 60,000 people have been killed since the rebels began their fight the 1970s for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east. |