10:48pm UK, Saturday January 31, 2009

The UN secretary general and the Red Cross are appealing for more time to allow the evacuation of those wounded in fighting in Sri Lanka.

Wounded civilians are trapped in the war zone as the military advances

A quarter of a million civilians are still believed to be trapped in the north of the country, despite a lull in the fighting.

A government deadline for Tamil Tiger rebels to let people leave the conflict zone has ended with only around 100 reaching safe areas.

The government has accused the insurgents of holding the civilians as human shields.

According to the Red Cross, some 250,000 people are trapped in the 115-square mile area where the rebels have been boxed in by advancing troops. The government puts the number at about 120,000.

The defence ministry said in a statement more than 100 civilians including 16 children have managed to flee the war zone and “sought protection with security forces”.

They included 63 people who arrived in Visuamadu town, while 43 others made their way in two boats across choppy waters off Mullaittivu toward Pulmoddai town, it said.

“We gave a chance to the Tigers to release the civilians during the 48 hours but the terrorists are not allowing innocent civilians to get out. They are using them as human shields,” said government spokesman Lakshman Hulugalla.

The Tigers deny holding civilians and say the military offensive is preventing them from fleeing.

The claims and counterclaims cannot be independently verified because the government has banned most journalists and aid workers from traveling to the area.

The Sri Lankan military claims it has destroyed an explosives-laden rebel boat heading on an apparent suicide mission toward a naval blockade along the coast.

The army believes it is now close to destroying the Tigers, who have been fighting since 1983 for a separate homeland for ethnic minority Tamils in the north and the east.

On Thursday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa urged the rebels to let civilians leave the conflict zone by Saturday and guaranteed safe passage to all non-combatants.

Although the 48-hour period did not amount to a cease-fire, the government is expected to step up its offensive on Sunday, which aid workers say will lead to more civilian casualties.