Tamils demand foreign probe after Sri Lanka war report

Colombo, Nov 15:

's main

party on Thursday demanded an international inquiry after the

admitted that it failed to protect thousands of civilians killed by troops in the final phase of the country's conflict in 2009.

The moderate Tamil National Alliance said the report published by the UN secretary general's office confirmed its longstanding allegations of widespread killing and incarceration of civilians. "Now that the UN has come (out) with this report we want action," party spokesman MA Sumanthiran said.

"There should be an international inquiry. The government as the main accused party cannot be involved in the investigation." Sri Lanka has resisted previous calls for an independent probe and instead appointed a domestic commission to recommend measures to prevent the country slipping back into ethnic war.

"We would like to see reparations, restitution and justice for the people who suffered," Sumanthiran said. "No one can say that these allegations should not be investigated."

PTI