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| Sri Lankan shelling 'kills 378' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least 378 people have been killed by continuing shelling from the Sri Lankan army in the past 24 hours, a health official has told the BBC. | |
| The official, working in the conflict zone, said 1,122 others had been injured - and more bodies were on beaches and by the sides of roads. | |
| But the Sri Lankan military denies it has shelled the "safety zone". | |
| Tamil Tiger rebels and the military regularly accuse each other of atrocities in the civil conflict - claims that are impossible to verify. | |
| Foreign reporters are banned from the war zone. | Foreign reporters are banned from the war zone. |
| See a map of the conflict region | See a map of the conflict region |
| The pro-rebel Tamilnet website reported that heavy shelling had started late on Saturday and continued into Sunday. | |
| The site said as many as 2,000 civilians had been killed, but health officials said they could not confirm the figure. | |
| The BBC's Charles Haviland, in Colombo, said an official in the war zone confirmed his hospital had taken in 378 bodies so far. | |
| 'Propaganda' claims | 'Propaganda' claims |
| Earlier, doctors said two hospitals were struggling to cope with the casualties, and that people were hiding in bunkers and many makeshift tents had been burnt. | |
| They added that among those killed was a government nursing officer. | They added that among those killed was a government nursing officer. |
| But the military denied the allegations. | But the military denied the allegations. |
| Sri Lankan defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told the BBC the accounts were "propaganda" of the Tamil Tigers and that there had been neither shelling nor air attacks on the civilian zone. | Sri Lankan defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told the BBC the accounts were "propaganda" of the Tamil Tigers and that there had been neither shelling nor air attacks on the civilian zone. |
| "That is a fact," he said. | "That is a fact," he said. |
| He said the guerrillas were "holding people to ransom" in their area, and accused the rebels of killing nine civilians who were trying to escape their zone on Saturday. | He said the guerrillas were "holding people to ransom" in their area, and accused the rebels of killing nine civilians who were trying to escape their zone on Saturday. |
| The UN estimates that about 50,000 civilians are trapped by the conflict. | The UN estimates that about 50,000 civilians are trapped by the conflict. |
| 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. | More than 70,000 people have been killed in the war. |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |
| Are you in Sri Lanka? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Sri Lanka? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |