Stop civilian casualties in Lanka: Obama

Fearing that the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka could turn into a catastrophe, US President Barack Obama has urged the Sri Lankan Government to stop the indiscriminate shelling of civilians and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to lay down their arms.      

At a hurriedly convened media availability at the White House, minutes before he left for Arizona, Obama called on Sri Lanka to immediately take steps so as to alleviate this humanitarian crisis now unfolding in the northern conflict zones of the country.      

"Firstly, the government should stop the indiscriminate shelling that has taken hundreds of innocent lives, including (in) several hospitals. The government should live up to its commitment not to use heavy weapons in the conflict zone," Obama said.      

This is one of the rare occasions that the White House has taken note of the crisis in Sri Lanka with the President himself addressing the press over the issue.      

"Secondly, the government should give United Nations and International Committee of the Red Cross access to nearly 190,000 displaced people within Sri Lanka so that they can receive the immediate assistance necessary to save their lives," Obama said.

However, Obama did not take any question in his brief read out in which he said with all the big issues going on, Sri Lanka hasn't received much attention, it deserves.      

"We have a humanitarian crisis that's taking place in Sri Lanka. And I've been increasingly saddened by the desperate news in recent days," Obama said.      

Tens of thousands of innocent civilians are trapped, between the warring government forces and the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, with no means of escape, little access to food, water, shelter and medicine, he said.     

"Now is the time, I believe, to put aside some of the political issues that are involved and to put the lives of the men and women and children, who are innocently caught in the crossfire to put them first," the President said.      

Obama also urged the Tamil Tigers to lay down their arms and let civilians go. 

"Their forced recruitment of civilians and their use of civilians as human shields is deplorable. These tactics will only serve to alienate all those who carry them out," the US President said.