US tells LTTE time to stop shooting

by Ananth PALAKIDNAR

The US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Boucher has accused the LTTE for the `increasing sufferings 'of civilians in the embattled Wanni region and asked the LTTE to stop firing shells and guns into the safe zone declared by the government.

Boucher also called on the LTTE to give up their arrogance and allow the innocent civilians to flee the shrinking war zone at a press meet with a group of South Asian journalists on Friday. "The Tamil Tigers by trapping them, the civilians and by continuing the conflict are just increasing the sufferings of the Tamil people. So it is very much time for them to allow safe passage for people to leave," Boucher said.

"We are glad to see that the government managing to get some additional food supply to these areas this weekend," Boucher said.

But that could not be the case with the Tamil Tigers. "We have seen the Tamil Tigers shelling that safe zone. We have seen them continuing hostilities in other places. So we believe that it is time for them to stop fighting and allow these people to go safely to other parts of safe places," Boucher said.

It is only then there could be discussions on how to end hostilities.

"Making political calls and statements, does not really count when you are still lobbying shells and shooting guns. It is time to stop shooting guns," Boucher said.