Sri Lanka inquiry

EU foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels on Monday, said they were "appalled by the loss of innocent civilian lives as a result of the conflict and by the high numbers of casualties, including children."

"The fight must stop now," the EU ministers demanded, adding that those who have violated international human rights laws "must be brought to justice."

While describing the Tamil Tigers as terrorists who have used civilians as human shields, the ministers said this was no excuse for the government trampling on human rights to fight them. They also urged the Sri Lankan government to cooperate with the United Nations in resolving the crisis, ending restrictions on aid agencies and allowing the International Committee of the Red Cross to monitor screening of people leaving the conflict zone.

The call came as Sri Lankan authorities declared a "final victory," after annoning they killed Tamil leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran earlier in the day. Prabhakaran's son and several other top Tamil Tigers were killed over the weekend. The Sri Lankan president had already claimed victory on Saturday, while the Tigers admitted defeat on Sunday.

The Tamil Tigers, or Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, have been fighting for an independent state for more than 25 years. Up until two years ago, when the Sri Lankan government launched a major offensive against them, the rebels ran a de facto mini-state that stretched across one third of the island nation.

The conflict between the government and the rebels has left 70,000 dead, victims of suicide attacks, bomb strikes and assassinations.

hf/AFP/Reuters

Editor: Trinity Hartman