[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 February 2009, 04:00 GMT]
More than 120 civilians were killed in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelling Friday and Saturday inside the safety zone in Chuthanthirapuram, Iruddumadu, Udaiyaarkaddu and Theavipuram within the last 48 hours. At least 59 civilians were killed Friday and more than 62 killed on Saturday. Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombed Puthukkdiyiruppu (PTK) Ponnampalam hospital killing 61 patients on Friday. Casualty figures from SLA shelling in Puthukkudiyiruppuu were not available.
Civilians were seen moving towards PTK on Paranthan Road amidst heavy shelling that targeted the road on Friday. At least 8 dead bodies were seen along the road Saturday morning. A bus was seen abandoned after it was damaged by shelling. Two tractors had got fire in the shelling.
Four bodies were recovered along Vaakeesan Road, the alternative road to PTK from Udaiyaarkaddu.
An indiscriminate artillery barrage, deploying artillery-fitted cluster shells, claimed the lives of 9 civilians Friday night after 11:45 p.m. on Theavipuram inside the safety zone.
The shelling also hit the makeshift hospital in Chuthanthirapuram, killing an employee of the hospital Saturday.
Chronology:
More than 120 civilians were killed in Sri Lanka Army (SLA) shelling Friday and Saturday inside the safety zone in Chuthanthirapuram, Iruddumadu, Udaiyaarkaddu and Theavipuram within the last 48 hours. At least 59 civilians were killed Friday and more than 62 killed on Saturday. Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombed Puthukkdiyiruppu (PTK) Ponnampalam hospital killing 61 patients on Friday. Casualty figures from SLA shelling in Puthukkudiyiruppuu were not available.
Civilians were seen moving towards PTK on Paranthan Road amidst heavy shelling that targeted the road on Friday. At least 8 dead bodies were seen along the road Saturday morning. A bus was seen abandoned after it was damaged by shelling. Two tractors had got fire in the shelling.
Four bodies were recovered along Vaakeesan Road, the alternative road to PTK from Udaiyaarkaddu.
An indiscriminate artillery barrage, deploying artillery-fitted cluster shells, claimed the lives of 9 civilians Friday night after 11:45 p.m. on Theavipuram inside the safety zone.
The shelling also hit the makeshift hospital in Chuthanthirapuram, killing an employee of the hospital Saturday.
Chronology:
01.02.09 Shelling hits hospital, ICRC shocked
27.01.09 Norway breaks silence, condemns war
18.01.09 Vanni civilians under deadly siege