Credible allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka: UN report

Shelling by the Sri Lankan government, in the final stages of the war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) in 2009, claimed the most number of civilian lives, according to a UN report.

"Most civilian casualties in the final phases of the war were caused by government shelling. The government systematically shelled hospitals on all fronts. The government systematically deprived people in conflict zone of humanitarian aid in the form of food and medical supplies, particularly surgical supplies, adding to their suffering," said the report, which was officially released yesterday.

The UN panel estimated that 40,000 people were killed in the war.

"The panel's determination of credible allegations reveals a very different version of the final stages of the war than that maintained to this day by the government," it said. More...

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