UK, US call for end to fighting in Sri Lanka

Washington, May 13 (ANI): Visiting British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have expressed their "profound concern" over the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka and called for a halt to the fighting in the northern part of that island nation.

Around 50,000 people are trapped in a small area in the north east of the country

They issued a joint statement after a meeting in Washington to draw attention to the plight of residents caught up in the fighting in the country's war zone, Sky News reports.

"The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam must lay down their arms and allow civilians free passage out of the conflict zone. The Government of Sri Lanka must abide by its commitment of April 27 to end major combat operations and the use of heavy weapons," the joint statement said. (ANI)