The United States has expressed its deep concern over the high level of civilian casualties in strife-torn Sri Lanka and asked Colombo and the LTTE leaders to end their fighting.
"We think that there is an unacceptably high level of civilian casualties," Ian Kelly, State Department spokesman told reporters at his maiden press conference at Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department.
"We have repeatedly urged the Tamil Tigers to lay down its arms and allow the civilians to leave the safe zone," he said when asked about his comment on reports of the death of more than 400 civilians in a no-fire zone.
"The Government of Sri Lanka should abide by its April 27th statement that combat operations have concluded and that security forces should end the use of heavy weapons, which, of course, could cause civilian casualties," Kelly said.