UN urges safety of civilians as Sri Lanka presses for victory
[AFP]
Red Cross officials were negotiating Saturday to evacuate more wounded from the conflict zone in Sri Lanka’s embattled north as the island’s military kept up its push to crush Tamil separatist rebels. “We are negotiating with both parties (the government and the rebels) to the conflict to ensure safe passage for many more patients that need urgent medical attention,” ICRC spokeswoman Sarasi Wijeratne told AFP. She would not say how many patients “critically wounded” in the conflict and others suffering from heart ailments and other conditions might be brought out of Puthukkudiriruppu which lies behind LTTE front lines in Mullaittivu district.