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Sri Lanka gestures amid conflict with Tamil separatists

The Sri Lankan army today announced the end of its heavy military operations in the area of ​​around ten km2 where rebels and thousands of civilians are entrenched. She also assured that she would endeavor to rescue civilians held hostage by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Yesterday the separatists unilaterally proclaimed a ceasefire which was rejected by the government. Colombo is under pressure from the international community, which is worried about the fate of civilians.

John Holmes, the head of humanitarian affairs at the United Nations, visited Sri Lanka to call for a humanitarian break. And on Wednesday, it will be the turn of the French, British and Swedish foreign ministers to go there. The Sri Lankan government, persuaded to be the winner in this 37-year-old separatist conflict, demands that the rebels lay down their arms. According to the UN, more than 6,500 civilians have probably been killed since the launch in January of a muscular offensive by the army.