Minister says oficials in the war zone are forced to give the LTTE version of events

Tens of thousands of civilians are trapped on a small stretch of coastline, and on Thursday a senior health official inside the no-fire zone said there had been further heavy civilian casualties caused by shelling.

Dr T Varatharaja told the BBC that at least 60 civilians have been killed by shells fired in a no-fire zone in Sri Lanka within 24 hours.

'Health facility attacked'

"Some shells landed inside a smaller health facility in the Ambalavanpokkanai area. Ten people were killed in the incident," Dr. T Varatharaja told the BBC.

Some shells landed inside a smaller health facility in the Ambalavanpokkanai area when people were waiting to collect milk powder for children. Ten people were killed in the incident Health ministry official, Dr. Varatharaja

But in a BBC interview, the health minister said officials inside the area were under threat from the Tamil Tigers, and were having to give the rebels' version of events.

"Throughout the conflict, when there had been incidents like this, health ministry officials have been making statements in favour of the LTTE because they will not be able to survive there," Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

He also accused the international community of being misled by the rebels -- it was "high time", he said, that the United Nations believed what the government was saying.

"What is the independent evidence the UN or the European Union or the international community has to say that the armed forces of Sri Lanka fired into the safety zone?," the minister questioned.

HRW statement

The Tamil Tiger fighters are currently holding out in a small stretch of coastal area in Mullaitivu district.

	"War crimes by the LTTE don’t give Sri Lankan commanders free rein to ignore civilian casualties"

Meanwhile, New York based campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the government to stop firing heavy artillery into the safe zone.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the HRW has called upon the UN Security Council to take urgent measures safeguard civilians caught in the conflict.

It urged both the government and the LTTE to bring an end to violations of international humanitarian law.

"Sri Lanka's so-called 'no-fire zone' is now one of the most dangerous places in the world," Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch was quoted in the statement.