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Donors warn on Sri Lanka violence Donors warn on Sri Lanka violence
(about 1 hour later)
International donors have urged Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels to halt worsening violence.International donors have urged Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels to halt worsening violence.
At an aid meeting in the city of Galle, World Bank vice president Praful Patel said the bloodshed was "at the centre of any discussion" about the country.At an aid meeting in the city of Galle, World Bank vice president Praful Patel said the bloodshed was "at the centre of any discussion" about the country.
US ambassador Robert Blake told delegates there was no military solution to the conflict, which has claimed 65,000 lives since the 1970s.US ambassador Robert Blake told delegates there was no military solution to the conflict, which has claimed 65,000 lives since the 1970s.
Most of about $4.5bn in foreign aid pledges is contingent on peace moves.Most of about $4.5bn in foreign aid pledges is contingent on peace moves.
'Obstacle''Obstacle'
Mr Patel said there was no way "to politely skirt" the issue of renewed and deepening conflict in the island.Mr Patel said there was no way "to politely skirt" the issue of renewed and deepening conflict in the island.
A development vision cannot exist independently of the conflict World Bank vice president Praful PatelA development vision cannot exist independently of the conflict World Bank vice president Praful Patel
"The past year has not been good at all for the families of the more than 3,500 Sri Lankans killed as a result of the increased hostilities," he said."The past year has not been good at all for the families of the more than 3,500 Sri Lankans killed as a result of the increased hostilities," he said.
"Nor has it been a good year for the additional over 200,000 persons displaced by the conflict. It has not been a good year for the whole population of the north and east."Nor has it been a good year for the additional over 200,000 persons displaced by the conflict. It has not been a good year for the whole population of the north and east.
"We cannot spend two days discussing development plans if we do not place the conflict squarely in our sights as the largest obstacle.""We cannot spend two days discussing development plans if we do not place the conflict squarely in our sights as the largest obstacle."
Mr Patel said the challenges in rebuilding Sri Lanka were "enormous".Mr Patel said the challenges in rebuilding Sri Lanka were "enormous".
He said "some fairly good progress" had been made since 2001 but that had now been stopped in its tracks.He said "some fairly good progress" had been made since 2001 but that had now been stopped in its tracks.
"The government needs to enable us to do our job better by creating a more conducive environment," he said."The government needs to enable us to do our job better by creating a more conducive environment," he said.
Aid agencies have complained in recent months that the authorities have hindered them from reaching conflict areas. They have also criticised the rebels for using civilians as human shields.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse told delegates he believed that development of the north and east was important for sustainable peace.
But he said it was "equally important to defeat futile terrorist attacks" mounted by the Tamil Tigers.
'Power-sharing''Power-sharing'
US Ambassador Robert Blake said the only way forward was through peace talks.US Ambassador Robert Blake said the only way forward was through peace talks.
"We remain unwavering in our conviction that there can be no military solution to this terrible conflict," he told the meeting."We remain unwavering in our conviction that there can be no military solution to this terrible conflict," he told the meeting.
"We hope Sri Lanka will seize the opportunity to forge a power-sharing proposal that can form the basis for talks with the LTTE [Tamil Tigers] that could finally bring an end to conflict in Sri Lanka.""We hope Sri Lanka will seize the opportunity to forge a power-sharing proposal that can form the basis for talks with the LTTE [Tamil Tigers] that could finally bring an end to conflict in Sri Lanka."
The Tamil Tigers are listed by the US, the EU, India and others as a banned terrorist organisation.The Tamil Tigers are listed by the US, the EU, India and others as a banned terrorist organisation.
They have been fighting since the 1970s for a separate homeland in Sri Lanka's north and east for minority Tamils, who they say are discriminated against by majority Sinhalese.They have been fighting since the 1970s for a separate homeland in Sri Lanka's north and east for minority Tamils, who they say are discriminated against by majority Sinhalese.
A 2002 cease-fire between the rebels and the government is still technically in place, although fighting has steadily worsened over the past year.A 2002 cease-fire between the rebels and the government is still technically in place, although fighting has steadily worsened over the past year.