The Sri Lankan army has killed 91 people at a makeshift hospital inside a civilian safe zone in the last two days, two doctors have told the BBC.
The doctors said bombardments from the army had killed 64 people on Saturday, including patients, their relatives and bystanders in Mullivaikal.
About 87 people were injured. Another 27 people reportedly died on Friday.
The army has denied bombing the hospital, saying that Tamil Tiger rebels carried out suicide attacks.
A doctor in Mullivaikal has sent images he says show shelling at the hospital
A spokesman for the Sri Lankan army said that although soldiers had heard explosions in the area, they had not fired any shells.
The army had not used heavy weapons for some days, he said, since the government announced on Monday that it was halting its use of heavy weapons in the conflict zone.
The army spokesman said Tamil Tiger rebels had launched eight suicide attacks in the space of two days.
A doctor working within the zone has e-mailed the BBC a number of photographs which, he says, show the aftermath of recent shelling at the hospital in Mullivaikal.
One image appears to show a father and son killed as they slept.
The hospital lies within a government-designated safe zone set up to protect civilians.
In contrast, the defence ministry has put on its website video clips which, it says, show the rebels moving an artillery piece through the zone they control, our correspondent says.
Journalists are not allowed near the conflict zone, so the conflicting accounts cannot be independently verified.
Trapped civilians
The images sent by a doctor appear to show bodies and damage to structures
The reports centre on a tiny strip of land on the north-east coast, where Tamil Tiger rebels are still holding out against government forces.
The Sri Lankan military has restricted the rebels to a 12 sq km (5 sq miles) area and believes it is close to defeating them.
Tens of thousands of civilians have been trapped in the area, and the EU and the UN have urged Sri Lanka to observe a pause in its campaign to let them out.
The government says a halt would serve no purpose. Diplomatic efforts to bring more help for the civilians in the war zone have so far made little progress.
The Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority since 1983.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in the war, but that figure could now be far higher
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Swine flu spread 'not sustained'
There is no evidence of the swine flu virus spreading in a sustained way outside North America, a top World Health Organization official says.
Dr Michael Ryan, WHO Director of Global Alert and Response, praised European nations' handling of cases and said events did not seem out of control.
Mexico has cut its suspected death toll by 75 to 101, indicating the outbreak may not be as bad as initially feared.
The country has ordered a five-day shutdown in a bid to contain the virus.
Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told the BBC that, based on samples tested, the mortality rate was comparable with that of seasonal flu.
Dr Ryan, meanwhile, said that there was "no evidence of sustained community spread outside of North America".
CONFIRMED CASES
Mexico: 101 suspected deaths - 16 confirmed
US: One death, 160 confirmed cases
New Zealand: 4 confirmed, 12 probable cases
Canada: 35 confirmed cases
UK, Spain: 15 confirmed cases
Germany: 4 confirmed cases
France, Israel, Costa Rica: 2 confirmed cases
Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, South Korea, Italy, Irish Republic: 1 confirmed case
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Countries with confirmed cases of secondary transmission:
Mexico
US
Canada
Spain
Germany
UK
Mapping the outbreak
Price hikes in Mexico amid flu panic
Did Mexico over-react to flu?
"I think it would be, at this stage, unwise to suggest that, in any way, those events are out of control or spreading in an uncontrolled fashion," he said. "I think the next few days will tell as this develops."
"At the present time I would still propose that a pandemic is imminent because we see the disease spread," Dr Ryan added.
The WHO is sending 2.4m courses of antiviral treatment to 72 nations around the world, Dr Ryan said, among them many developing countries.
But in cases of the virus outside Mexico, the effects do not appear to be severe.
Italy and the Irish Republic reported their first cases on Saturday, bringing the number of countries affected to 18.
Canada has announced that a herd of pigs has tested positive for swine flu.
A senior agriculture official told a news conference that the pigs may have been infected by a farm worker who fell ill after returning from Mexico last month.
In Egypt, authorities have begun in earnest the slaughter of more than 300,000 pigs, in what was originally described as a precaution against swine flu.
Officials now say the move is a general health measure aimed at restoring order to Egypt's pig-rearing industry.
International experts say there is no scientific rationale for Egypt's pig cull
Experts say the virus cannot be caught from eating pork and there is no scientific rationale for the cull.
Five countries outside Mexico have confirmed person-to-person transmission.
China is trying to stop the spread of the virus, after getting its first case on Friday.
It says it will quarantine all those who travelled on a flight from Mexico with a man suffering from swine flu.
Flights from Mexico have been suspended, and fellow guests and staff at the Hong Kong hotel where he was staying have been quarantined.
On Saturday, Mexico's foreign minister advised citizens not to travel to China to avoid the health measures being taken there against Mexicans.
Risk remains
The US has now confirmed 160 cases of swine flu across 21 states but has seen only one death, of a Mexican toddler in Texas.
SYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO
Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue
If you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, you should seek medical advice
If you suspect you are infected, you should stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infection
Q&A: What is swine flu?
Mexican economy squeezed by flu
In pictures: Flu concern grows
The quest for a swine flu vaccine
President Barack Obama said in his weekly radio address that the US was taking "all necessary precautions" to ensure it was prepared if the virus developed into "something worse".
Dr Anne Schuchat, acting deputy director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that although experts were concerned about the possibility of severe cases, the majority so far had been "mild, self-limited illness".
The new virus lacked the traits that made the 1918 flu pandemic so deadly, another CDC official said.
Mr Cordova appeared to agree, saying that the Mexican authorities may, on reflection, have overestimated the danger.
He said 43.7% of samples from suspected cases so far tested had come back positive, a total of 397. Sixteen in this group had died.
"That means that apparently, the rate of attack is not as wide as was thought," he said.
But he stressed that the risk of a rise in infection remains and said some elements of the five-day shutdown - in which many public buildings and businesses have been closed and people urged to stay at home - might be extended.
Dr Michael Ryan, WHO Director of Global Alert and Response, praised European nations' handling of cases and said events did not seem out of control.
Mexico has cut its suspected death toll by 75 to 101, indicating the outbreak may not be as bad as initially feared.
The country has ordered a five-day shutdown in a bid to contain the virus.
Mexican Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told the BBC that, based on samples tested, the mortality rate was comparable with that of seasonal flu.
Dr Ryan, meanwhile, said that there was "no evidence of sustained community spread outside of North America".
CONFIRMED CASES
Mexico: 101 suspected deaths - 16 confirmed
US: One death, 160 confirmed cases
New Zealand: 4 confirmed, 12 probable cases
Canada: 35 confirmed cases
UK, Spain: 15 confirmed cases
Germany: 4 confirmed cases
France, Israel, Costa Rica: 2 confirmed cases
Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, South Korea, Italy, Irish Republic: 1 confirmed case
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Countries with confirmed cases of secondary transmission:
Mexico
US
Canada
Spain
Germany
UK
Mapping the outbreak
Price hikes in Mexico amid flu panic
Did Mexico over-react to flu?
"I think it would be, at this stage, unwise to suggest that, in any way, those events are out of control or spreading in an uncontrolled fashion," he said. "I think the next few days will tell as this develops."
"At the present time I would still propose that a pandemic is imminent because we see the disease spread," Dr Ryan added.
The WHO is sending 2.4m courses of antiviral treatment to 72 nations around the world, Dr Ryan said, among them many developing countries.
But in cases of the virus outside Mexico, the effects do not appear to be severe.
Italy and the Irish Republic reported their first cases on Saturday, bringing the number of countries affected to 18.
Canada has announced that a herd of pigs has tested positive for swine flu.
A senior agriculture official told a news conference that the pigs may have been infected by a farm worker who fell ill after returning from Mexico last month.
In Egypt, authorities have begun in earnest the slaughter of more than 300,000 pigs, in what was originally described as a precaution against swine flu.
Officials now say the move is a general health measure aimed at restoring order to Egypt's pig-rearing industry.
International experts say there is no scientific rationale for Egypt's pig cull
Experts say the virus cannot be caught from eating pork and there is no scientific rationale for the cull.
Five countries outside Mexico have confirmed person-to-person transmission.
China is trying to stop the spread of the virus, after getting its first case on Friday.
It says it will quarantine all those who travelled on a flight from Mexico with a man suffering from swine flu.
Flights from Mexico have been suspended, and fellow guests and staff at the Hong Kong hotel where he was staying have been quarantined.
On Saturday, Mexico's foreign minister advised citizens not to travel to China to avoid the health measures being taken there against Mexicans.
Risk remains
The US has now confirmed 160 cases of swine flu across 21 states but has seen only one death, of a Mexican toddler in Texas.
SYMPTOMS - WHAT TO DO
Swine flu symptoms are similar to those produced by ordinary seasonal flu - fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue
If you have flu symptoms and recently visited affected areas of Mexico, you should seek medical advice
If you suspect you are infected, you should stay at home and take advice by telephone initially, in order to minimise the risk of infection
Q&A: What is swine flu?
Mexican economy squeezed by flu
In pictures: Flu concern grows
The quest for a swine flu vaccine
President Barack Obama said in his weekly radio address that the US was taking "all necessary precautions" to ensure it was prepared if the virus developed into "something worse".
Dr Anne Schuchat, acting deputy director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that although experts were concerned about the possibility of severe cases, the majority so far had been "mild, self-limited illness".
The new virus lacked the traits that made the 1918 flu pandemic so deadly, another CDC official said.
Mr Cordova appeared to agree, saying that the Mexican authorities may, on reflection, have overestimated the danger.
He said 43.7% of samples from suspected cases so far tested had come back positive, a total of 397. Sixteen in this group had died.
"That means that apparently, the rate of attack is not as wide as was thought," he said.
But he stressed that the risk of a rise in infection remains and said some elements of the five-day shutdown - in which many public buildings and businesses have been closed and people urged to stay at home - might be extended.
Friday, May 1, 2009
BJP, Cong may stun SP, BSP; thanks to Gandhis
After three phases of polling, it appears the Congress and the BJP may well be doing better than expected in the key state of Uttar Pradesh with the potential losers being the SP and the BSP.
So has Rahul Gandhi's “go it alone” policy and BJP’s Hindutva slant clicked? Ground reports suggest so. Muslims, having turned their back on the Congress after the Babri demolition, are doing a rethink after Mulayam embraced Kalyan Singh.
The good news for BJP is that Brahmins are tiring of Mayawati's social engineering which has now begun targeting the Muslims.
It was Rahul's idea to walk it alone in the crucial state despite having taken the Samajwadi support during the trust vote. But a bitter SP thinks Rahul's romance with this idea will be shortlived.
There are smiles on BJP faces, having once boasted of big names from the state, the party was groping for a foothold. Now, after three phases of polling, the Hindutva strategy, which was not overplayed except in Pilibhit, may have clicked.
And as the Congress and the BJP prepare for the last two phases, it will be Gandhi versus Gandhi as Rahul and Varun take each other on. The national parties are relying on the same family tree to reap a harvest in Uttar Pradesh.
So has Rahul Gandhi's “go it alone” policy and BJP’s Hindutva slant clicked? Ground reports suggest so. Muslims, having turned their back on the Congress after the Babri demolition, are doing a rethink after Mulayam embraced Kalyan Singh.
The good news for BJP is that Brahmins are tiring of Mayawati's social engineering which has now begun targeting the Muslims.
It was Rahul's idea to walk it alone in the crucial state despite having taken the Samajwadi support during the trust vote. But a bitter SP thinks Rahul's romance with this idea will be shortlived.
There are smiles on BJP faces, having once boasted of big names from the state, the party was groping for a foothold. Now, after three phases of polling, the Hindutva strategy, which was not overplayed except in Pilibhit, may have clicked.
And as the Congress and the BJP prepare for the last two phases, it will be Gandhi versus Gandhi as Rahul and Varun take each other on. The national parties are relying on the same family tree to reap a harvest in Uttar Pradesh.
PM assures Altaf of notice against police
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has called Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Quaid Altaf Hussain by phone assuring him of strong note against Karachi police in connection with the negative reporting conducted by police against MQM.
The telephonic talk between Prime Minister Gilani and MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain lasted for over thirty minutes.
Premier said the violence, erupted on recent days in Karachi, was brought under control by the efforts of MQM and lauded his party’s endeavors for establishment and maintenance of peace in the metropolis.
“The positive role, played by MQM to overpower recent social turmoil in Karachi, is utterly commendable”, PM Gilani remarked adding, “MQM’s reservations will be abolished thoroughly”.
MQM Quaid, on the occasion, apprised PM of it’s party’s reservations and negative reporting conducted by some police officials against MQM.
“Land and drug mafia have afflicted terror activities in Karachi”, Altaf Hussain made clear adding, “Police is holding MQM responsible for it.”
The telephonic talk between Prime Minister Gilani and MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain lasted for over thirty minutes.
Premier said the violence, erupted on recent days in Karachi, was brought under control by the efforts of MQM and lauded his party’s endeavors for establishment and maintenance of peace in the metropolis.
“The positive role, played by MQM to overpower recent social turmoil in Karachi, is utterly commendable”, PM Gilani remarked adding, “MQM’s reservations will be abolished thoroughly”.
MQM Quaid, on the occasion, apprised PM of it’s party’s reservations and negative reporting conducted by some police officials against MQM.
“Land and drug mafia have afflicted terror activities in Karachi”, Altaf Hussain made clear adding, “Police is holding MQM responsible for it.”
Obama, Zardari, Karzai to meet on Wednesday
The White House said the President Barack Obama will meet Wednesday with President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai to discuss their troubled region.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday that Obama would meet jointly and separately with the two presidents at the White House. He said Obama looks forward to discussing with them "how we can work together to enhance our cooperation in this important part of the world."
The Karzai and Zardari governments are dealing with Taliban insurgencies in regions of their countries, which share a mountainous border.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Friday that Obama would meet jointly and separately with the two presidents at the White House. He said Obama looks forward to discussing with them "how we can work together to enhance our cooperation in this important part of the world."
The Karzai and Zardari governments are dealing with Taliban insurgencies in regions of their countries, which share a mountainous border.
US gives Pakistan two weeks to eliminate Taliban
Virtually putting Pakistan on notice, the US has said it is looking for concrete action by the government there to destroy
the Taliban operating out of its territory in the next two weeks before determining its next course of action. This came even as Pakistani forces battled the Taliban for control of a strategic northern valley for a fourth day on Friday, killing up to 60 of militants.
Gen David Petraeus, Commander of US Central Command, has told US officials the next two weeks are critical to determining whether the Pakistani government will survive, Fox News reported. Petraeus made this assessment in talks with lawmakers and Obama administration officials this week, individuals familiar with the discussions said.
“The Pakistanis have run out of excuses” and are “finally getting serious” about combating the threat from Taliban and al-Qaida extremists, the general is reported to have told the officials.
The TV network reported that Petraeus also said wearily that “we’ve heard it all before” from the Pakistanis and he is looking to see concrete action by the government to destroy the Taliban in the next two weeks before determining US’ next course of action.
Pakistani forces battled the Taliban for control of a strategic northern valley for a fourth day, killing up to 60 of them. The militants were still in control of parts of Buner valley, though troops had secured the main town of Daggar on Wednesday after helicopter dropped troops behind enemy lines.
The ground troops have established links with the soldiers airlifted to Daggar, but heavy fighting was going on elsewhere in the valley, military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas said.
In another district of the region, Upper Dir, over 50 militants stormed the headquarters of a paramilitary force early on Friday and kidnapped 10 of them.
NWFP authorities on Friday opened talks with Sufi Mohammad, an influential cleric of the region who has acted as a go-between with the Taliban, in a renewed effort to stop violence.
the Taliban operating out of its territory in the next two weeks before determining its next course of action. This came even as Pakistani forces battled the Taliban for control of a strategic northern valley for a fourth day on Friday, killing up to 60 of militants.
Gen David Petraeus, Commander of US Central Command, has told US officials the next two weeks are critical to determining whether the Pakistani government will survive, Fox News reported. Petraeus made this assessment in talks with lawmakers and Obama administration officials this week, individuals familiar with the discussions said.
“The Pakistanis have run out of excuses” and are “finally getting serious” about combating the threat from Taliban and al-Qaida extremists, the general is reported to have told the officials.
The TV network reported that Petraeus also said wearily that “we’ve heard it all before” from the Pakistanis and he is looking to see concrete action by the government to destroy the Taliban in the next two weeks before determining US’ next course of action.
Pakistani forces battled the Taliban for control of a strategic northern valley for a fourth day, killing up to 60 of them. The militants were still in control of parts of Buner valley, though troops had secured the main town of Daggar on Wednesday after helicopter dropped troops behind enemy lines.
The ground troops have established links with the soldiers airlifted to Daggar, but heavy fighting was going on elsewhere in the valley, military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas said.
In another district of the region, Upper Dir, over 50 militants stormed the headquarters of a paramilitary force early on Friday and kidnapped 10 of them.
NWFP authorities on Friday opened talks with Sufi Mohammad, an influential cleric of the region who has acted as a go-between with the Taliban, in a renewed effort to stop violence.
Digital campaigning, how effective?
As voting for the General elections reaches final phases after hectic campaigning with political parties heavily relying also on digital technology, the effectiveness of this new penchant is yet to be proven, experts say.
"We can't be certain about how effective this form of campaigning has been because the political parties don't just rely on this medium. They still hold rallies and face to face campaigning, besides the digital form of campaigning," said Rajeeva Karandikar, a psephologist.
Dr Ajay Pal Singh, Psychiatrist, Max Health Care said, "In any human interaction, there are many factors like body language, eye movements that govern the final effect on the listener. So, it becomes much easier to motivate someone when you are face to face with him. The digital medium is impersonal in nature and to convince the audience is not very easy."
While messages from different parties keep on popping continuously into our phone inbox, how much we are motivated and to what extent, determines how effective the message is, according to experts.
"In case of advertisements on TV, we do not have a choice. In case of SMSes popping up every now and then, a sense of irritation is created and unintentionally you start disliking the party or individual," said Dr Singh.
"We can't be certain about how effective this form of campaigning has been because the political parties don't just rely on this medium. They still hold rallies and face to face campaigning, besides the digital form of campaigning," said Rajeeva Karandikar, a psephologist.
Dr Ajay Pal Singh, Psychiatrist, Max Health Care said, "In any human interaction, there are many factors like body language, eye movements that govern the final effect on the listener. So, it becomes much easier to motivate someone when you are face to face with him. The digital medium is impersonal in nature and to convince the audience is not very easy."
While messages from different parties keep on popping continuously into our phone inbox, how much we are motivated and to what extent, determines how effective the message is, according to experts.
"In case of advertisements on TV, we do not have a choice. In case of SMSes popping up every now and then, a sense of irritation is created and unintentionally you start disliking the party or individual," said Dr Singh.
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