Category: Politics
Britain wants swift UN Sri Lanka report
LONDON, April 18, 2009 (AFP) – Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Saturday he would ask UN chief Ban Ki-moon’s top aide to report to the Security Council “immediately” on his return from strife-torn Sri Lanka. Miliband said he was “gravely concerned” about the conflict there, while insisting that the government was listening to protesters […]
Sri Lanka keeps up offensive despite calls for fresh truce
April 18, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops on Saturday kept up their offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels cornered in the northeast, the defence ministry said, ignoring mounting international appeals for a ceasefire.The island’s government accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of firing heavy artillery and mortars from an area it has designated […]
Australian Tamils call off hunger strike
SYDNEY, April 18, 2009 (AFP) – Tamil protesters who staged a seven-day hunger strike outside the Australian prime minister’s home said Saturday they had ended their protest following assurances their demands had been heard. “Australia continues to call on the Sri Lankan government to put forward credible political reforms to engage Tamils and other minorities […]
Top UN official in Sri Lanka
UNITED NATIONS, April 16, 2009 (AFP) – UN chief Ban Ki-moon has dispatched a top aide to Sri Lanka to try to ease the plight of tens of thousands of civilians trapped by fighting between government forces and Tamil separatists, a UN spokesman said Thursday. Farhan Haq told AFP that Vijay Nambiar, Ban’s chief staff, […]
Sri Lanka has chance to end conflict: US
WASHINGTON, April 16, 2009 (AFP) – The United States on Thursday urged an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka to save thousands of trapped civilians, saying the Colombo government had a chance to finally end three decades of war. “We call upon the government and military of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers to immediately stop […]
UN calls for pause in Sri Lanka fighting to allow aid in
GENEVA, April 17, 2009 (AFP) – The United Nations on Friday renewed its call for a pause in fighting between Tamil Tiger rebels and government troops in order to allow civilians trapped by the conflict to flee.“UNICEF is calling for a ceasefire and for a humanitarian pause which allows humanitarian workers to access the conflict […]
Sri Lanka advances on Tigers amid international pressure
April 16, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Thursday it had made fresh advances into the area still held by Tamil Tiger rebels, ignoring global calls for a truce to rescue thousands of civilians trapped by the fighting. Arguing the civilians were being used as a human shield, the island’s defence ministry said its forces […]
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LONDON, April 15, 2009 (AFP) – The British and French foreign ministers said Wednesday that Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka are using civilians as human shields, which was preventing them from leaving the conflict zone. Miliband and Kouchner urged both sides to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and to do everything […]
Sri Lankan troops, Tigers trade fire as ceasefire ends
April 15, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops resumed their offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels in the northeast at the end of a 48-hour ceasefire, the two sides said early Wednesday.The government had wanted the Tigers to free civilians during the break in fighting, but military officials said there was no large exodus over the […]
Heavy fighting resumes in Sri Lanka
April 15, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops resumed their all-out offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the island on Wednesday following a brief holiday ceasefire, officials said. They were also consolidating positions in recently captured areas, and on Tuesday recovered several surface to air missiles and hundreds of landmines stored by […]
Sri Lanka fighting resumes after ceasefire
April 15, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lankan security forces resumed their offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the island on Wednesday following a brief holiday ceasefire, the two sides said.The navy attacked two Tamil Tiger boats that tried to approach the coastline on Wednesday, killing at least 10 guerrillas, navy spokesman Captain […]
Sri Lankan rebels say ready for truce, peace talks
April 14, 2009 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels said Tuesday they were ready to negotiate a ceasefire with government forces and restart peace talks to halt decades of ethnic bloodshed.The government said it hoped that non-combatants would be able to leave a narrow strip of coastal jungle where they are allegedly held hostage […]