Sri Lanka OKs U.N. visit to 'no-fire zone'

Published: April 24, 2009 at 1:05 PM

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, April 24 (UPI) -- A Sri Lankan official said Friday his government has agreed in principle to allow U.N. staff inspectors to visit the country's "no-fire zone" in the northeast.

Sri Lankan Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said U.N. personnel based in the capital of Colombo will be allowed into the embattled region once details of the visits are worked out.

"The U.N. must tell us first who would be on the mission, how many days they plan to stay, what they plan to do and so forth, before we give the final green light," Samarasinghe said.

The Sri Lankan official's comments come after U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said Thursday he wanted to send a humanitarian team to the Asian country because of its deteriorating security situation.

North Sri Lanka has been the site of fierce fighting between government forces and the rebel Tamil Tigers.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Empty Nest: If it's Tuesday it's NoHo (30 min)
Fed presidents says zero interest needed (32 min)
NHL: San Jose 4, Nashville 3 (49 min)
Hamburg reassures doctors on H1N1 vaccine
NBA: Sacramento 101, Oklahoma City 98
AMA body calls for medical pot review
Suit: Homeowners stiffed on Ike claims
fark
United Airlines pilot E. Vermont Washington charged with being in a drunken state (or two) at Heathrow...
Middle school food fight leads to 25 arrests. FOOD FIGHT
High Fructose Corn Syrup raises hypertension risk 87%. Put down the Mountain Dew and back away slowly...
News: Man robs home. Fark: He leaves behind part of his nose
"DC Sniper" is pining for the fjords
Barely breathing frat pledge registers BAC of nearly .500. Welcome to Phi Delta Theta, son