A Sri Lankan government deadline for Tamil Tiger rebels to let civilians leave the northern conflict zone ended Saturday with only about a hundred reaching safe areas. The government accused the insurgents of holding the civilians as human shields. According to the Red Cross, some 250,000 civilians are trapped in the 115-square mile (300-square kilometer) area where the rebels have been boxed in by advancing troops. The government puts the number at about 120,000. The Defense Ministry said in a statement that more than 100 civilians including 16 children fled the war zone and “sought protection with security forces” on Saturday. They included 63 people who arrived in Visuamadu, while 43 others came in two boats across the choppy seas off Mullaittivu.
