Members of the United Nations Security Council, have strongly condemned the LTTE for its acts of terrorism over many years, and for its continued use of civilians as human shields and acknowledged the legitimate right of the Government of Sri Lanka to combat terrorism.

They have demanded that the LTTE lay down arms and allow tens of thousands of civilians still in the conflict zone to leave.

The UNSC members have also called on the Government of Sri Lanka to take further necessary steps to facilitate the evacuation of the trapped civilians and the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance to them.

This Press Statement was made after a meeting of the UNSC in which the current situation in Sri Lanka was formally discussed for the first time. The statement did not comprise a Security Council Resolution or a Statement by its President. Although the item on Sri Lanka was listed under Any Other Business, the actual discussion was informal and not as part of an agenda item.

The UNSC has been under considerable pressure by key members of the West, particularly the UK and France, to have a strictly formal discussion on the Sri Lanka situation and arrive at a UNSC Resolution on it.

Here is the text of the Press Statement issued after the discussion at the Security Council, May 12

The members of the Security Council

• Express grave concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in North - East Sri Lanka, in particular the reports of hundreds of civilian casualties in recent days, and call for urgent action by all parties to ensure the safety of civilians.

• Strongly condemn the LTTE for its acts of terrorism over many years, and for its continued use of civilians as human shields and acknowledge the legitimate right of the Government of Sri Lanka to combat terrorism;

• Demand that the LTTE lay down its arms and allow the tens of thousands of civilians still in the conflict zone to leave;

• Express deep concern at the reports of continued use of heavy calibre weapons in areas with high concentrations of civilians, and expect the Government of Sri Lanka to fulfil its commitment in this regard'

• Demand that all parties respect their obligations under international humanitarian law;

• Call on the Government of Sri Lanka to take the further necessary steps to facilitate the evacuation of the trapped civilians and the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance to them;

• Take note of the steps taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to address the humanitarian situation of displaced persons and call on the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure the security of those displaced by the conflict and to cooperate with the UN, the ICRC, and other international humanitarian organizations in providing humanitarian relief and access to them as soon as they leave the Conflict Zone;

• Reiterate support for the personal involvement of the UN Secretary General and urge the Government of Sri Lanka to extend full cooperation to the UN in order to resolve the humanitarian crisis;

• Mindful of the necessity to find a long term solution without the threat of violence, underline that the needs of all communities in Sri Lanka have to be addressed.