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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Sri Lanka war zone hospital 'hit' | Sri Lanka war zone hospital 'hit' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sri Lankan government forces have shelled a hospital inside the conflict zone killing at least 45 people, Tamil Tiger rebel and hospital sources say. | Sri Lankan government forces have shelled a hospital inside the conflict zone killing at least 45 people, Tamil Tiger rebel and hospital sources say. |
| The rebels said the makeshift hospital in Mullivaikal was hit early in the morning, but a government spokesman denied knowledge of the incident. | |
| Meanwhile Sri Lanka's army said it had pierced rebel defences and advanced along a coastal strip to the south. | |
| The claims are impossible to verify as reporters are banned from the area. | The claims are impossible to verify as reporters are banned from the area. |
| More than 400 people were killed and over 1,000 injured over the weekend in what the UN has described as a bloodbath. | More than 400 people were killed and over 1,000 injured over the weekend in what the UN has described as a bloodbath. |
| See a map of the conflict region | See a map of the conflict region |
| Many of the casualties from that fighting were taken to the Mullivaikal hospital. | Many of the casualties from that fighting were taken to the Mullivaikal hospital. |
| The International Committee of the Red Cross's spokeswoman in Colombo, Sarasi Wijeratne, has told the BBC that it has a ship waiting off the rebel-held zone to deliver 25 tonnes of essential supplies and evacuate sick and wounded people. | |
| But she said the ground situation was making it difficult to dock and deliver the aid, which needed to be off-loaded prior to any evacuations. | |
| "The situation is not conducive to carry out humanitarian operations," said Ms Wijeratne. | |
| "There were initial security guarantees provided by both sides but those have not been translated on the ground." | |
| The last evacuation was on Saturday. | |
| 'Nowhere to run' | 'Nowhere to run' |
| Thurairaja Varatharajah, a health official at the hospital, told the Associated Press news agency it had been hit by a single mortar shell. | Thurairaja Varatharajah, a health official at the hospital, told the Associated Press news agency it had been hit by a single mortar shell. |
| More than 50 people were injured, and he expected the death toll to rise because many of the injured had bad head and stomach wounds, he added. | More than 50 people were injured, and he expected the death toll to rise because many of the injured had bad head and stomach wounds, he added. |
| However, military sources have suggested that doctors in the zone may be being forced to give statements at gunpoint by rebels. | However, military sources have suggested that doctors in the zone may be being forced to give statements at gunpoint by rebels. |
| Rebel spokesman Seevaratnam Puleedevan told AP civilians were fleeing in all directions. | Rebel spokesman Seevaratnam Puleedevan told AP civilians were fleeing in all directions. |
| "There's no place to seek shelter or protect themselves," he said. | "There's no place to seek shelter or protect themselves," he said. |
| The Sri Lankan military has meanwhile blamed civilian deaths on the Tigers, saying they are using people as human shields. | The Sri Lankan military has meanwhile blamed civilian deaths on the Tigers, saying they are using people as human shields. |
| Defence ministry spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told the BBC he knew nothing of the incident but that the military was not deploying heavy weaponry in civilian areas. | Defence ministry spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told the BBC he knew nothing of the incident but that the military was not deploying heavy weaponry in civilian areas. |
| The UN estimates that about 50,000 civilians are trapped by the conflict, in a three-sq-km strip of land. | The UN estimates that about 50,000 civilians are trapped by the conflict, in a three-sq-km strip of land. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday he was appalled by the killings and called for an immediate halt to the fighting. | UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday he was appalled by the killings and called for an immediate halt to the fighting. |
| Diplomats from the UK, France and Austria said the Security Council should address the crisis, while the US said it was "deeply concerned" by the crisis. | Diplomats from the UK, France and Austria said the Security Council should address the crisis, while the US said it was "deeply concerned" by the crisis. |
| 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 |