Civilian casualties rising rapidly in S Lanka

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COLOMBO, April 23 (AP): Civilian casualties are rising rapidly in Sri Lanka's war zone despite the exodus of tens of thousands as government troops close in on separatist rebels, a medical relief group said Thursday.
The UN Security Council expressed concern Wednesday at the plight of the civilians trapped along Sri Lanka's northeastern coast and asked the Tamil Tiger rebels to lay down their arms, renounce terrorism and join talks to end the nation's 25-year civil war.
It also urged the government to allow international agencies' access to those affected by the fighting.
The military says 102,790 civilians had escaped the conflict zone from Monday through Wednesday evening, but tens of thousands are believed to still be there.
The medical aid group Doctors Without Borders said a growing number of badly wounded civilians suffering from blast injuries and gunshot wounds were arriving at a hospital.