Hundreds of Tamil civilians killed in Sri Lankan army attack

AN overnight artillery barrage in Sri Lanka’s northern war zone killed at least 378 civilians and wounded more than 1,100, a government doctor said yesterday, calling it the bloodiest day he had seen in the army’s offensive against the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Dr V Shanmugarajah said many more were likely killed in the attack, but they were buried where they fell instead of being brought to the makeshift hospital where he works in the war zone.

He described the situation at the understaffed hospital as “overwhelming”.