More than 15,000 civilians have fled Sri Lanka's northern war zone in three days, a military spokesman said yesterday, as government forces appeared poised to crush the separatist Tamil Tigers.
Meanwhile, attacks in the north killed at least 21 rebels at the weekend, the military said. A military offensive has almost routed the rebels, virtually ending their 25-year war for a Tamil nation, AP reported.
However, the UN and aid agencies are concerned for about 250,000 civilians trapped in the shrinking sliver of land still controlled by the Tigers. International organisations, including the Red Cross, have urged both sides to let them leave.
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"So far on Sunday, 4600 civilians have come to the government areas," said Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.
He added 5600 fled on Saturday while 5000 crossed over on Friday, bringing the total for the three days to 15,200.
The government accuses the rebels of holding civilians as human shields, a charge the rebels deny.
The Red Cross said about 400 patients are stranded in a makeshift hospital. It urged both sides to let them be moved out.
Heavy fighting continued, with the navy claiming it had destroyed two rebel boats 10 miles off the north coast of the island, killing at least six insurgents.
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