UN decries Sri Lanka 'bloodbath;' 106 children die

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Monday he was appalled by reports that hundreds of Sri Lankan civilians were killed during the weekend in what the United Nations has described as a "bloodbath."

Miliband raised doubts about whether Colombo could be trusted at the moment to use a $1.9 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund appropriately.

"I am appalled by reports that came out of Sri Lanka over the weekend of mass civilian casualties," he told reporters ahead of a U.N. Security Council meeting on unrelated matters.
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Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will host a meeting on Monday of concerned U.N. delegations and non-governmental organizations active on the ground at which they hope to increase pressure on Colombia to protect civilians and allow journalists and aid workers into the conflict zone.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN11531687

Doctor says 49 killed in Sri Lanka hospital attack

A mortar shell struck the only functioning medical facility in Sri Lanka's northern war zone Tuesday morning, killing 49 patients and bystanders and wounding more than 50 others, a government health official in the area said.

By RAVI NESSMAN

Associated Press Writer
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka —

A mortar shell struck the only functioning medical facility in Sri Lanka's northern war zone Tuesday morning, killing 49 patients and bystanders and wounding more than 50 others, a government health official in the area said.

The attack came after a weekend of heavy shelling that killed hundreds of civilians trapped in the war zone. The military has denied accusations that it was still shelling the tiny coastal strip still under rebel control, which is packed with an estimated 50,000 civilians.

Dr. Thurairaja Varatharajah, the top government health official in the war zone, said a single mortar shell hit the admissions ward in the makeshift hospital Tuesday morning. In addition to the 49 killed, scores of others were injured - many with head and stomach wounds - and he expected the death toll to rise, he said.

Shells were still hitting the area hours later, including one that landed about 150 yards (meters) from the hospital, Varatharajah said.

A second hospital official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said a hospital administrator was among those killed.

Reports of the fighting are difficult to verify because the government bars journalists and aid workers from the war zone.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008820498_apassrilankacivilwar.html

"Hospitals are legitimate targets" ..to Sky News

"Either you are a terrorist, or you are fighting the terrorists" ...to Al Jazeera

"Dissent is tantamount to terrorism..." - to BBC.

"When I was in Israel, their defence chief asked me the secret behind how our pilots were able to so skilfully drop their bombs on just the Tigers avoiding all civilians. It made me feel so proud for my nation.." - to Rupavahini