Lankan hospital toll rises to 50
Thursday, 14 May 2009
COLOMBO, May 13 (AFP): A shell attack against a makeshift hospital in Sri Lanka's northeastern war zone Wednesday killed at least 50 civilians and wounded more than 60, a doctor there told the news agency.
"At least 50 people have been killed and more than 60 injured in today's shelling," T. Varatharajah, a doctor working at the facility at Mullivaikal, said by telephone.
Two hospital employees were among those killed, he said.
The doctor said the attack followed a similar strike on Tuesday, when 47 people were reported killed and 56 wounded.
He said the shelling had also prevented the evacuation of 800 patients by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
He did not say who was responsible for the shelling, although the Tamil Tiger rebels blamed government forces for the attack.
The Sri Lankan military denies it is using heavy weapons. Sri Lankan authorities also say that doctors in the area are also hostages of the Tigers and have questioned the credibility of their accounts.
"At least 50 people have been killed and more than 60 injured in today's shelling," T. Varatharajah, a doctor working at the facility at Mullivaikal, said by telephone.
Two hospital employees were among those killed, he said.
The doctor said the attack followed a similar strike on Tuesday, when 47 people were reported killed and 56 wounded.
He said the shelling had also prevented the evacuation of 800 patients by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
He did not say who was responsible for the shelling, although the Tamil Tiger rebels blamed government forces for the attack.
The Sri Lankan military denies it is using heavy weapons. Sri Lankan authorities also say that doctors in the area are also hostages of the Tigers and have questioned the credibility of their accounts.