World information using the BBC

 The Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse says that there is no humanitarian turmoil using the north within of the nation especially where his federal government is carrying out a main offensive versus Tamil Tigers rebels. His comments contradict promises using the United Nations along using the worldwide Committee within of the red-colored Cross. From Colombo, Chris Morris reports.

Gotabhaya Rajapakse, a past army colonel, who's the sibling of Sri Lanka's President, was defiant. There is, he said, no humanitarian catastrophe in northern Sri Lanka. It's all propaganda and incorrect information, he said, brought on by stress using the Tamil Tigers. "I'm not saying the UN along using the red-colored Cross are lying," he continued, "but they are exaggerating." Mr. Rajapakse rejected a assertion made over the ICRC that a massive selection of grownup men and females experienced been wiped out or injured by shellfire. "We possess a policy," he declared, "of zero civilian casualties."

President Obama's new envoy in the direction of center East, George Mitchell, has held talks near to the potential customers for peace using the area with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem. At a information conference afterwards, Mr. Mitchell mentioned he along using the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discussed the essential significance of consolidating the ceasefire in Gaza. The Israeli army says a rocket fired using the Gaza Strip has struck southern Israel several hours pursuing Mr. Mitchell ended his talks with Israeli officials. There have been no reviews of casualties or damage. The strike is believed to turn to the original since the start of the shaky truce among Israel along using the militant Palestinian set Hamas 10 times ago.