Sri Lanka must respect heavy weapons pledge says United Nations

Last Updated: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:00:00 +1000

The United Nations Aid Chief John Holmes says Sri Lanka must put in to practice its latest pledge not to use heavy weapons as it fights the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Amid mounting diplomatic pressure to protect civilians caught in the island's war zone, the government said on Monday it would no longer use heavy weapons as it moves in to rescue those still trapped.

Mr Holmes says he hopes the pledge will be genuinely be respected, but warns that's not been the case in the past.

The United Nations estimates 50,000 people are still trapped in rebel-held territory.

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