Civilians 'starving', allow overseas Tamils to send aid: LTTE

Accusing Sri Lankan government of blocking food supplies for civilians trapped in war zone, the LTTE today claimed that a number of "starvation deaths" have taken place in the area and asked the international community to allow relief supplies by overseas Tamils.

Accusing Sri Lankan government of blocking food supplies for civilians trapped in war zone, the LTTE today claimed that a number of "starvation deaths" have taken place in the area and asked the international community to allow relief supplies by overseas Tamils.

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"We draw attention to the nine deaths by starvation in the last few days and the real fear that the death toll could rise exponentially in the coming days," the Tamil Tiger rebels said in a statement.

The fate of thousands of civilians, trapped in the 4.5 sq km no-fire zone in the north along with the rebel remnants, has been a cause of concern among the international community.

The LTTE accused the government of blocking food supplies and said overseas Tamil community is planning a humanitarian aid delivery to the conflict zone.

The UN and other countries should give "moral, political and logistical support" to this effort, it said.

The Lankan government strongly denied the claim, saying essential commodities were being sent to the war zone and there was "no starvation".