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Tamil Tigers urged to surrender Tamil Tigers urged to end fight
(about 3 hours later)
The UN Security Council has called on Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka to lay down their arms and let the UN help evacuate civilians from the war zone. A senior UN official has urged Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels to lay down their arms and let the UN help trapped civilians to leave the conflict zone.
The council's president branded the Tigers a terrorist movement and said they should join a political process. Claude Heller, Mexico's ambassador at the UN in New York, spoke to reporters after chairing an informal meeting of the UN Security Council on the issue.
Sri Lanka's army says it has closed in on the last area of rebel resistance in the island's north-east. While the 15-strong Council passed no resolution on the conflict, Mr Heller said he was voicing members' concerns.
The military says more than 100,000 civilians have escaped from the rebel-held area, but many remain trapped. Sri Lanka's army says it has closed in on the last area of Tiger resistance.
On Wednesday, Sri Lanka's government said the rebels' media co-ordinator, Daya Master, had given himself up, along with a top interpreter. name="story"> class="bodl" href="#map">See map of the region It says that more than 100,000 civilians have escaped from the rebel-held area in the north-east but many remain trapped.
On Wednesday, Sri Lanka's government said the rebels' media co-ordinator, Daya Master, had given himself up, along with an interpreter involved in talks with the press and foreign diplomats. See map of the region
Correspondents say the surrenders will be a major setback for the rebel leadership if they are proved to be true.Correspondents say the surrenders will be a major setback for the rebel leadership if they are proved to be true.
Tamil Tiger leaders have insisted that rebels should commit suicide by swallowing cyanide capsules rather than be captured.Tamil Tiger leaders have insisted that rebels should commit suicide by swallowing cyanide capsules rather than be captured.
Human shields 'Human shields'
The stern message to Sri Lanka's rebels was delivered by the Mexican president of the Security Council, ambassador Claude Heller, after an informal meeting in New York. Wednesday night's meeting of the Security Council was an informal session in the UN basement, called by France in response to the suffering of the people trapped in the conflict zone.
View satellite images showing area in northern Sri Lanka where refugees have gathered on the beach.In picturesView satellite images showing area in northern Sri Lanka where refugees have gathered on the beach.In pictures
"We strongly condemn a terrorist organisation for the use of civilians as human shields and for not allowing them to leave the area of conflict," he said. The Council has been criticised by advocacy groups for failing to act in the face of the escalating violence but two of its permanent, veto-wielding members, Russia and China, insist the war is an internal conflict that does not threaten international peace and security.
Mr Heller called on the Sri Lankan government to allow aid agencies in to help those affected by the fighting. Mr Heller said there was deep concern about the plight of the civilians and he accused the Tigers of using people as human shields in the conflict zone.
Sri Lanka had not formally been on the Security Council's agenda for Wednesday. But it has faced criticism for failing to act in the face of the escalating violence. "We strongly condemn the LTTE [Tamil Tigers] terrorist organization for the use of civilians as human shields and for not allowing them to leave the area of conflict," he said.
Diplomats say countries like China and Russia see the situation in Sri Lanka as a civil war rather than a threat to international peace and security, which is the threshold for the council to act, reports the BBC's UN correspondent Laura Trevelyan. "In this regard, the Security Council members... demand that the LTTE immediately lay down arms, renounce terrorism, allow a UN-assisted evacuation of the remaining civilians in the conflict and join the political process for dialogue in order to put an end to the conflict."
Because the UN meeting was informal nothing binding which has to be followed up with action was agreed, our correspondent adds. Mr Heller also called on the Sri Lankan government to allow aid agencies in to help those affected by the fighting.
Because the UN meeting was informal nothing binding which has to be followed up with action was agreed, the BBC's Laura Tevelyan reports.
But Western diplomats say a strong statement of concern has been sent from New York which will be closely followed by both the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lanka's government.But Western diplomats say a strong statement of concern has been sent from New York which will be closely followed by both the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lanka's government.
France and Britain are talking separately about whether it might be possible to send boats to rescue people who remain trapped on beaches in north-eastern Sri Lanka. France and Britain are talking separately about whether it may be possible to send boats to rescue people who remain trapped on beaches in north-eastern Sri Lanka.
Conflicting reportsConflicting reports
Earlier on Wednesday the head of the Tigers' Peace Secretariat, Seevaratnam Puleethevan, told the BBC he had heard media reports that two Tamil Tiger figures had handed themselves in.Earlier on Wednesday the head of the Tigers' Peace Secretariat, Seevaratnam Puleethevan, told the BBC he had heard media reports that two Tamil Tiger figures had handed themselves in.
Daya Master gave himself up at Puthumathalan, the army saysDaya Master gave himself up at Puthumathalan, the army says
He said that the pair had not been active because of illness and old age.He said that the pair had not been active because of illness and old age.
The army said the number of Tamil civilians who had escaped from rebel-held areas had risen to 77,000. That figure was later raised to 100,000.The army said the number of Tamil civilians who had escaped from rebel-held areas had risen to 77,000. That figure was later raised to 100,000.
The US state department released satellite images of civilian camps consisting of 25,000 tents in a government-designated safe zone - which the army says will not be attacked by heavy armaments - in the dwindling amount of territory still held by the rebels.The US state department released satellite images of civilian camps consisting of 25,000 tents in a government-designated safe zone - which the army says will not be attacked by heavy armaments - in the dwindling amount of territory still held by the rebels.
The images show the area before the camps were established and after displaced people moved in.The images show the area before the camps were established and after displaced people moved in.
The state department says 120,000 people remain in the war zone.The state department says 120,000 people remain in the war zone.
Conflicting figuresConflicting figures
Amid conflicting claims from the ongoing conflict, the Sri Lankan government says that about 30 civilians have been killed in recent days, including 17 in a rebel suicide attack.Amid conflicting claims from the ongoing conflict, the Sri Lankan government says that about 30 civilians have been killed in recent days, including 17 in a rebel suicide attack.
There is no confirmation of either side's claims, as independent journalists are not allowed to enter the conflict zone or given access to civilians who have crossed over to government-controlled territory. But the UN estimates that more than 4,500 civilians have been killed in the past three months.There is no confirmation of either side's claims, as independent journalists are not allowed to enter the conflict zone or given access to civilians who have crossed over to government-controlled territory. But the UN estimates that more than 4,500 civilians have been killed in the past three months.
TAMIL TIGER DEFENCES BREACHED BY SRI LANKA ARMY 1. 12km-long defensive earthworks constructed by Tamil Tigers using mechanical diggers2. Sri Lankan army uses explosives to destroy a 3km section3. Gap allows thousands of refugees to flee Tiger-held territoryTAMIL TIGER DEFENCES BREACHED BY SRI LANKA ARMY 1. 12km-long defensive earthworks constructed by Tamil Tigers using mechanical diggers2. Sri Lankan army uses explosives to destroy a 3km section3. Gap allows thousands of refugees to flee Tiger-held territory
The head of the Sri Lankan army, Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka, told the BBC that troops knew the "general area" of Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and that "action will be taken to destroy him".The head of the Sri Lankan army, Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka, told the BBC that troops knew the "general area" of Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and that "action will be taken to destroy him".
Prabhakaran was hiding near the coast, Lt Gen Fonseka said.Prabhakaran was hiding near the coast, Lt Gen Fonseka said.
The general said only 300-400 Tamil Tiger fighters remained, but there may be 700 "forcibly armed" people in rebel bunkers.The general said only 300-400 Tamil Tiger fighters remained, but there may be 700 "forcibly armed" people in rebel bunkers.
The government has said that a pause in fighting is not necessary because additional consignments of food, medicine and other essentials have been dispatched to the war zone.The government has said that a pause in fighting is not necessary because additional consignments of food, medicine and other essentials have been dispatched to the war zone.
It says that the rebels are a "spent force" confined to an area no bigger than 12 sq km (five square miles).It says that the rebels are a "spent force" confined to an area no bigger than 12 sq km (five square miles).
MAP OF THE REGION Click here to returnMAP OF THE REGION Click here to return