The European Union, United States, Japan and Norway today urged the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to consider surrendering to avoid more deaths, including among thousands of civilians trapped in the Sri Lankan war zone.
"There remains probably only a short period of time before the LTTE loses control of all areas in the north," they said in a joint statement.
"The LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka should recognize that further loss of life - of civilians and combatants - will serve no cause."
Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa last week gave the Tigers 48 hours to free thousands of civilians trapped inside the 300 square km of jungle still held by the rebels, which the LTTE ignored.
The government had promised safe passage for that time, but yestderday said it could not guarantee the safety of anyone still living among the rebels, unless they enter an army-demarcated no-fire zone.
Aid agencies say around 250,000 people are trapped in the Tiger-held area. The government says the number is closer to 120,000.
At least three Sri Lankan civilians were killed today when artillery shells hit a hospital in the war zone today for the fourth time in two days.
The deaths bring the toll in the two days of shelling at the hospital in the northern area of Puthikudiyiruppu to 12, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The military and the rebels have blamed each other for the shelling.
Reuters