Sri Lanka Shells Civilians

The Sri Lanken government's relentless effort to wipe out the Tamil Tiger insurgency reached a new low Saturday, as civilians caught in the crossfire of the conflict were shelled. Two hundred fifty-seven were killed, and nearby aid workers and hospitals were inundated with 814 wounded. Sri Lanka's military has faced harsh criticism for neglecting the innocents trapped in what appears to be the Tigers' last stand. Rumors have circulated that the government prevented aid from entering the rebels' last remaining small parcel of land. The government denies that it bombed civilians, saying it is using only small arms against the insurgents. The Guardian estimates that 50,000 civilians remain in the war zone, which is still under heavy bombardment.