French, British FMs fail to persuade Sri Lanka to order a truce
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, April 29, IRNA -- The British and French foreign ministers Wednesday said they had failed to prevail upon Sri Lankan government to announce a 'ceasefire' in its offensive against Tamil Tigers and allow international aid agencies access to the war zone.
"We tried very hard. We insisted. But it is upto our Lankan friends to end the offensive and allow aid to the civilians trapped by fighting," Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister told newsmen in Colombo after talkswith the Sri Lankan government, PTI reported.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also said that their talks with Sri Lankans have made no 'breakthrough'. He said, "We told the Lankans that truce is to help trapped civilians and not to help Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)."
"Now is the time, we have to give peace a chance. Sri Lankan army has made spectacular gains, but hunt for a peace is as crucial as winning the war," Miliband said.
The two leaders also said they had 'failed' to make Sri Lankan government agree to allow access to UN and international aid agencies to channelize aid to the trapped people.
The two minister before leaving Colombo also issued an appeal to Tamil Tigers to allow an estimated 50,000 people still trapped in the war zone to more to safe zones.
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