The council members that opposed taking up the issue were not named publicly.

However it is learnt that among others they include Russia and China, two of the Permanent Members of the Security Council.

Foreign Ministers David Miliband of Britain and Bernard Kouchner of France were joined by Austria's Michael Spindelegger, the federal minister for European and international affairs, to protest inaction by the 15-nation council at UN headquarters in New York.

'We are more than shocked, we cannot support the way in this particular place while people are suffering and dying,' Kouchner told reporters, showing his indignation.

When asked which council members opposed their request, Miliband said, 'We can only speak for ourselves. Others can speak for themselves.'

'We are clear, this is an issue that the UN Security Council should address, it involves major civilian loss of lives and distress,' Miliband said. 'It does have ramifications for the region. We as European members of the UN Security Council, we believe that the issues belong here.'

Both Miliband and Kouchner said they were ready to tell council members 'what they have seen' in Sri Lanka, but apparently they were not allowed to.

As a rule and unless a crisis is already on the council's agenda, a majority of nine council members have to approve a new issue be put on the agenda of discussion. Some council members have opposed discussion over matters they consider domestic matters.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Monday urged warring parties in Sri Lanka to respect international humanitarian efforts protecting civilians following reports of the alleged weekend massacre of over 400 civilians. A statement by his Spokesperson said “the reckless disrespect shown by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the safety of civilians has led to thousands of people remaining trapped in the area.

It added that: “The LTTE must immediately allow the remaining civilians in the conflict zone to leave”.

The Government of Sri Lanka has categorically denied reports attributable to sources aligned with or under duress from the LTTE as to supposed civilian casualties in the no-fire zone in north-eastern Sri Lanka.

The most recent claim of 378 deaths and over 1,100 injured is founded on a single source – a Government doctor said to be working in the zone. The Ministry of Health has denied the presence of such a doctor in the location where these alleged heavy weapon attacks by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, reported extensively by the western media, are said to have taken place.

Defence sources and political analysts see a definite manipulative act by international channels acting in concert with pro-LTTE pressure groups to present this false news to the world, at a time when it would suit the needs of the LTTE most, especially getting Sri Lanka placed on the agenda of the UN Security Council and listing Sri Lanka for a special session of the Un Human Rights Council.

Colombo is of the view that unverified statements by the UN Spokesman in Colombo, Charles Weiss, widely disseminated in the media, has been responsible for giving a wrong impression to the Office of the Secretary General, too.

This improper conduct of the UN Spokesperson in Colombo has been brought to the notice of higher authorities in the UN Office in Colombo by the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, and the officer is to be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter.