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Civilians pour out of Lanka war zone

AFP, Colombo
At least 10,000 civilians have escaped Sri Lanka's war zone In the last four days, the government said Sunday, as the president warned lamil Tiger rebels to surrender unconditionally or be killed.
The Tigers are fighting for survival after being driven back into a small patch of northern jungle by a military offensive that threatens to end their 30-year armed campaign for an independent ethnic Tamil homeland.
"Over 10,000 civilians have come to Kilinochchi while 139 others have come to laffna since the Independence Day (Wednesday)," the defence ministry said "Among the rescued civilians are over 2,800 children and about 3,000 women."
The ministry added that medical care, food and water was being provided at the frontlines for the fleeing civilians, who it says were among those held by the I igers as "human shields."
Government reports of the civilians’ movement and recent army advances cannot be verified because journalists, aid groups and international observers are not allowed into theconfiict zone.
Hundreds of non-combatants have been killed this year, according to the International Committee of the Red CroA, and global concern has mounted that a major humanitarian crisis is unfolding away from the public's gaze.
President Mahinda Rajapakse late Saturday warned the remaining rebels to surrender or face death as government forces tightened the noose.
"I want to tell the Tigers: Lay down arms and surrender to security forces,'" the president told a rally of supporters.
He said the Liberation T igers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) -- as they are formally known -- had been encircled in a narrow strip of land and had taken thousands of civilians hostage.
”lhey must let the civilians go and
then unconditionally give themselves up," he said to resounding applause. "I must warn them we will not halt our operations against terrorism until we reach our final objective."
The United States, European Union, Japan and Norway last week asked the rebels to lay down their arms and take part in political dialogue to end Sri Lanka's vicious unrest, which has claimed an estimated 70,000 lives since 1972.
Military officials said the air force at the weekend launched further strikes on the remnants of the Tamil Tigers after successfully bombing a key rebel hideout Friday and killing at least 11 Tigers, includinga top leader.
The Tigers Saturday mounted several counter-attacks in the Mullaittivu area — which until recently was their military stronghold -- but security forces beat them back, according to the defence ministry.