2ND LEAD

SLA intensifies attacks on Safe Zone, 71 civilians killed, 143 wounded

[TamilNet, Sunday, 05 April 2009, 15:45 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA), which has been blaming that the Tigers were using civilians as 'human shields' on Sunday contradicted its claims saying that main LTTE fighting formations were inside a territory outside the safe zone, besieged by the SLA and claimed that the area has now been brought under its control, causing heavy casualties to the LTTE. Meanwhile, the SLA has stepped up attacks on civilians inside the safety zone from 8:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the latest reports from the civilian safe zone. At least 71 civilians were killed and 143 sustained injuries and the doctors at Puthumaaththa'lan makeshift hospital were struggling to save a one month old baby, seriously wounded in SLA shelling.



Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter fired rocket killing 8 civilians near Pokka'nai Pi'l'laiyaar temple Sunday afternoon.

Heavy shelling by the SLA targeted Maaththa'lan, Pokka'nai, Valaignarmadam, Iraddai-vaaykkaal and other areas of the safety zone.

At least 23 of the civilians rushed to Puthumaaththa'lan makeshift hospital have succumbed to their injuries.

Local aid workers expressed fear of SLA stepping up its attacks on civilians inside the safe zone with the aim of forcefully subjugating them.





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