Red Cross ‘incites S Lanka panic’
[BBC]
The Sri Lankan government has accused the Red Cross of inciting panic over the military operation against Tamil Tiger rebels in the north. A spokesman said the ICRC had ordered 35,000 body bags for the battle zone to create what he called a fear psychosis among the international community. The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed a routine order of body bags but nowhere near that number. It said its office in Colombo had been attacked by protesters. Meanwhile the army says it is closing in on remaining Tamil Tiger positions, confining them to an area of about 200 sq km (124 sq miles).