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UN chief warns of 'bloodbath'
Evening Standard08.04.09
A UNITED NATIONS human rights expert warned of a "bloodbath" in Sri Lanka unless government and Tamil Tiger forces stop fighting long enough to let civilians flee.
Walter Kaelin said 100,000 civilians are trapped in a "no-fire" zone on the north-east coast where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, fighting for a separate state for ethnic Tamils, have retreated.
Mr Kaelin, who represents UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on the rights of internally displaced persons, said: "If the army try to go into there, if the LTTE would not be ready to let these civilians go, we'll end up with a bloodbath.
He urged both sides "to allow civilians to leave" and allow aid workers to "provide life-saving relief to the remaining population."
Reader views (2)
Only 100,000 'trapped' when 1,000,000 were actually 'slaughtered' in Rwanda the UN did absolutely nothing. If all the trapped Tamils are killed the world will go on as if nothing has happened. That is the world we live in I'm afraid.
- Nick Holland, glasgow
You can always rely upon the UN to state the obvious. Maybe the thousands who have been protesting in London would like to get back there and help. A little direct action for the cause they love so much.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke
