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Sri Lankan gov´t rejects rebel ceasefire offer

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-27-2009 09:46

The Sri Lankan government is rejecting a unilateral ceasefire announcement by the Tamil Tigers.

The government insists the rebels must lay down arms and surrender. Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse described the ceasefire offer as a joke.

Sri Lankan government soldiers stand with their weapons near the town of Putumatalan located on the outskirts of the 'No Fire Zone' in northern Sri Lanka April 24, 2009.REUTERS/David Gray
Sri Lankan government soldiers stand with their weapons
near the town of Putumatalan located on the outskirts
of the 'No Fire Zone' in northern Sri Lanka April 24,
2009.REUTERS/David Gray

He said the rebels are not fighting with the government troops, but retreating. He said there is no need for a ceasefire and that the rebels must surrender.

Meanwhile, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs- John Holmes is now on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, assessing the government's humanitarian effort.

Some 50 thousand civilians are still believed to be trapped in the remaining 10-square-kilometer area where the conflict is going on.

 

Editor:Zhang Pengfei