Sri Lanka adamant to rescue civilians: Prez
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Feb 10, IRNA -- Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday warned the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that nothing would deter his government from rescuing and rehabilitating the civilians.
Condemning the LTTE for carrying out dastardly attacks on innocent civilians, Rajapaksa said the government will not succumb to the evil designs of the rebels, and go ahead with steps to accommodate thousands of Tamil refugees who are fleeing the war zone, All India Radio (AIR) reported.
His strong condemnation comes in the wake of LTTE shooting down 17 civilians and injuring 69 others when they were leaving the tiger bastion of Pudukudirippu this morning and yesterday's suicide bomb attack by a female black tiger which left 28 dead and 64 wounded.
Basil Rajapaksa, Senior Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian said these attacks were carried out against the internally displace persons who have fled from areas of Mullathivu.
Tamil Tigers on Tuesday went on a shooting rampage, killing 17 Tamil civilians and wounded 69 others apparently to stop them from fleeing as thousands of refugees streamed out of the war zone in the Wanni region for safer places.
The United Nations has also condemned Monday's suicide attack which killed and wounded many civilians including, children.
It called on the LTTE to separate its forces from civilians under its control.
U.N. resident coordinator Neil Buhne said in Colombo that "we deplore the loss of civilian life in this targeted killing. It's a blow for people who have suffered so much".
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