More than 2,800 civilians have fled Sri Lanka's northern war zone where they were cornered with the remaining Tamil Tiger insurgents, the military said Sunday. Military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said the civilians reported to the army after crossing the front line Saturday. The United Nations estimates that more than 100,000 civilians are trapped in the area, earlier designated a «no-fire zone» for civilian protection, which measures only 7.7 square miles (20 square kilometers). The government suspended its offensive last week for two days to allow civilians to leave, but only a few hundred departed, according to a report of Associated Press.
