This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8023925.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Ministers on joint Sri Lanka trip Sri Lanka urged to halt offensive
(30 minutes later)
The British and French foreign ministers are on a one-day trip to Sri Lanka amid efforts to secure a truce between the army and rebels. British and French foreign ministers in Sri Lanka have urged the government to halt its military offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels in the north.
David Miliband of Britain and Bernard Kouchner of France will meet top officials and visit an area where displaced people are living in camps. UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the call was not aimed at saving the Tamil rebel leader but the lives of thousands of civilians trapped.
Correspondents say the government is unlikely to agree to a truce.
It has previously rejected similar calls and its relations with European countries have been tense.
The Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, had been due to accompany his European colleagues on the visit, but was refused entry by the Sri Lankan government.
The European Union has strongly criticised the refusal.
'Winning the peace'
"No-one in the international community has been calling for a ceasefire or to stop firing to save [Tiger leader Vellupillai] Prabhakaran. The calls have come because of the overwhelming concern with the wellbeing of the civilians," Mr Miliband said.
Sweden Carl Bildt was due to travel with the British and French ministers
"Now is the time for the fighting to stop. Sri Lanka's military advances have been spectacular, but winning the peace is as vital as winning the war."
His sentiments were echoed by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who said that civilians in the north were "hostages of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)".
Mr Kouchner said that he and Mr Miliband had "insisted and insisted" on a ceasefire, but so far their request had not been met with a positive response from the government.
The two ministers are on a one-day trip to Sri Lanka and will meet top officials and visit an area where displaced people are living in camps.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was barred from joining them for reasons he says are obscure.Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was barred from joining them for reasons he says are obscure.
Sweden recalled its ambassador in protest against the decision. Sweden recalled its ambassador for consultations following the decision.
The Czech presidency of the EU called the decision a "grave mistake". name="story"> class="bodl" href="#map">See a map of the region The Czech presidency of the EU called the decision a "grave mistake".
See a map of the region
Sri Lanka has had tense relations with the Scandinavian former monitors of its peace process, though its main problems have been with the former principal mediator, Norway.Sri Lanka has had tense relations with the Scandinavian former monitors of its peace process, though its main problems have been with the former principal mediator, Norway.
Sri Lanka said it was taken by surprise by the EU's strong reaction over Mr Bildt, who it said would be welcome to visit next month.Sri Lanka said it was taken by surprise by the EU's strong reaction over Mr Bildt, who it said would be welcome to visit next month.
The British and French ministers were visiting at the foreign ministry's invitation, while very little notice of Mr Bildt's plans had been given, a Sri Lankan official said.The British and French ministers were visiting at the foreign ministry's invitation, while very little notice of Mr Bildt's plans had been given, a Sri Lankan official said.
'Artillery and mortars''Artillery and mortars'
The Sri Lankan military has restricted Tamil Tiger rebels to a 12 sq km (5 sq miles) area of land in the north of the islands and believes it is close to defeating them.The Sri Lankan military has restricted Tamil Tiger rebels to a 12 sq km (5 sq miles) area of land in the north of the islands and believes it is close to defeating them.
The government is cautious over foreign efforts to mediate in the war
Tens of thousands of civilians have been trapped in the area, and the EU and the UN have urged Sri Lanka to observe a pause in its campaign to let them out.Tens of thousands of civilians have been trapped in the area, and the EU and the UN have urged Sri Lanka to observe a pause in its campaign to let them out.
The government says a halt would serve no purpose.The government says a halt would serve no purpose.
Diplomatic efforts to bring more help for the civilians in the war zone have so far made little progress.Diplomatic efforts to bring more help for the civilians in the war zone have so far made little progress.
Sweden Carl Bildt was due to travel with the British and French ministers Mr Miliband and Mr Kouchner will travel together to the town of Vavuniya, in the north though well away from the zone of fighting.
Mr Miliband and Mr Kouchner will meet officials including the president and foreign minister, and will travel together to the town of Vavuniya, in the north though well away from the zone of fighting.
It is where most people who have fled recent fighting, mainly Tamils, are now living in camps known as "welfare villages" under quite stringent government control, the BBC's Charles Haviland reports from the capital, Colombo.It is where most people who have fled recent fighting, mainly Tamils, are now living in camps known as "welfare villages" under quite stringent government control, the BBC's Charles Haviland reports from the capital, Colombo.
The Sri Lankan authorities, who are screening all refugees to try to weed out Tamil Tiger rebels, say 80% of those displaced will be resettled by the end of this year.
But many, including the UN and some charities, have criticised the restrictive nature of the camps.
A joint visit like this is unusual, our correspondent says.A joint visit like this is unusual, our correspondent says.
It comes after the British and French ministers jointly accused the Tamil Tigers of forcibly keeping civilians as human shields.
The rebels deny the allegation.
Mr Miliband has said his priority will be to address the humanitarian situation in the north and what he called the continuing grave risk to civilians in the conflict zone.
A Tamil Tiger spokesman said dozens of people were killed and more than 100 wounded on Tuesday, because government forces used artillery and mortars despite pledging a day earlier not to do so.A Tamil Tiger spokesman said dozens of people were killed and more than 100 wounded on Tuesday, because government forces used artillery and mortars despite pledging a day earlier not to do so.
But the military said no heavy weapons had been used and that they had captured a rebel fortification using only small weapons with no civilian casualties.But the military said no heavy weapons had been used and that they had captured a rebel fortification using only small weapons with no civilian casualties.
Journalists are not allowed near the conflict zone, the conflicting accounts cannot be verified.Journalists are not allowed near the conflict zone, the conflicting accounts cannot be verified.
The Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority since 1983.The Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority since 1983.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in the war, but that figure could now be far higher.More than 70,000 people have been killed in the war, but that figure could now be far higher.
Click here to returnClick here to return