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| S Lanka civilian attacks denied | S Lanka civilian attacks denied |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels have both denied accusations of inflicting civilian casualties in the north-east. | The Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels have both denied accusations of inflicting civilian casualties in the north-east. |
| The army said it was not responsible for the shelling of a makeshift hospital which the Red Cross (ICRC) said had killed 16 people on Monday. | The army said it was not responsible for the shelling of a makeshift hospital which the Red Cross (ICRC) said had killed 16 people on Monday. |
| The Tamil Tigers denied shooting dead 19 fleeing civilians. | The Tamil Tigers denied shooting dead 19 fleeing civilians. |
| Meanwhile the ICRC says a boat carrying 240 wounded civilians from the war area has arrived safely in Trincomalee. | Meanwhile the ICRC says a boat carrying 240 wounded civilians from the war area has arrived safely in Trincomalee. |
| "The boat arrived from Putumattalan on Tuesday night," an International Committee of the Red Cross spokeswoman told the BBC. | "The boat arrived from Putumattalan on Tuesday night," an International Committee of the Red Cross spokeswoman told the BBC. |
| See map of the region | See map of the region |
| "Because it took all night for the wounded and sick passengers to disembark we cannot return to collect another 160 patients waiting to be transferred from the war area until Thursday." | "Because it took all night for the wounded and sick passengers to disembark we cannot return to collect another 160 patients waiting to be transferred from the war area until Thursday." |
| FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| The ICRC said at least 16 patients were killed on Monday in shelling of the centre treating wounded civilians in Putumattalan. | |
| "We are shocked that patients are not afforded the protection they are entitled to," ICRC head Paul Castella said. He did not say who was behind the shelling. | "We are shocked that patients are not afforded the protection they are entitled to," ICRC head Paul Castella said. He did not say who was behind the shelling. |
| The government has strongly denied that it was involved. | The government has strongly denied that it was involved. |
| "We did not fire at this location on Monday and it is quite possible that the Tamil Tigers attacked them," military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara told the AFP news agency. | "We did not fire at this location on Monday and it is quite possible that the Tamil Tigers attacked them," military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara told the AFP news agency. |
| The military in turn accused the rebels of gunning down 19 civilians and wounding another 75 who tried to escape from the dwindling territory they still control. | The military in turn accused the rebels of gunning down 19 civilians and wounding another 75 who tried to escape from the dwindling territory they still control. |
| INSURGENCY TIMELINE 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 19901993: President Premadasa killed by Tiger bomb2001: Attack on airport destroys half Sri Lankan Airlines fleet2002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire2005: Mahinda Rajapakse becomes president2006: Heavy fighting resumes2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu But that allegation was "categorically denied" in a statement released by the Tigers on the pro-rebel TamilNet website. It said that Sri Lankan army commandos were responsible "in their attempt to forcibly move civilians" away from the conflict areas. | INSURGENCY TIMELINE 1976: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam form in the north-east1987: India deploys peace-keepers to Tamil areas but they leave in 19901993: President Premadasa killed by Tiger bomb2001: Attack on airport destroys half Sri Lankan Airlines fleet2002: Government and rebels agree ceasefire2005: Mahinda Rajapakse becomes president2006: Heavy fighting resumes2009: Army takes main rebel bases of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu But that allegation was "categorically denied" in a statement released by the Tigers on the pro-rebel TamilNet website. It said that Sri Lankan army commandos were responsible "in their attempt to forcibly move civilians" away from the conflict areas. |
| "Sri Lankan military machinery, which has relentlessly killed and maimed thousands of civilians during the past four weeks, is now engaged in a propaganda drive to divert the mounting pressure on the Colombo government by the international community," rebel spokesman C Ilamparithy was quoted by TamilNet as saying. | "Sri Lankan military machinery, which has relentlessly killed and maimed thousands of civilians during the past four weeks, is now engaged in a propaganda drive to divert the mounting pressure on the Colombo government by the international community," rebel spokesman C Ilamparithy was quoted by TamilNet as saying. |
| Because independent journalists are forbidden by the government from travelling to the war zone, it is impossible to verify the claims of either side. | Because independent journalists are forbidden by the government from travelling to the war zone, it is impossible to verify the claims of either side. |
| The rebels are now restricted to an area of less than 100 sq km (38 square miles) and analysts say they are close to military defeat. | The rebels are now restricted to an area of less than 100 sq km (38 square miles) and analysts say they are close to military defeat. |
| The ICRC says the recent fighting has claimed hundreds of civilian lives and trapped tens of thousands of people. | The ICRC says the recent fighting has claimed hundreds of civilian lives and trapped tens of thousands of people. |
| The government has rejected international calls for a ceasefire, demanding the rebels lay down their arms. | The government has rejected international calls for a ceasefire, demanding the rebels lay down their arms. |
| The Tigers have said they will not do so until they have a "guarantee of living with freedom and dignity and sovereignty". | The Tigers have said they will not do so until they have a "guarantee of living with freedom and dignity and sovereignty". |
| The rebels started fighting in the 1970s for a separate state for Tamils. | The rebels started fighting in the 1970s for a separate state for Tamils. |
| MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return | MAP OF THE REGION Click here to return |