Civilians flee Sri Lanka fighting
Thousands of people are fleeing heavy fighting in the north-eastern town of Muttur in Sri Lanka.
Fighting between the army and Tamil Tiger rebels that began in a dispute over water has been spreading.
Both sides claim to be in control of Muttur, a mainly Muslim town in Trincomalee district.
The Red Cross said it had been unable to reach the trapped civilians after failing to obtain security guarantees from the belligerents.
Red Cross spokesman Sukumar Rockwood said: "We have not been able to achieve the humanitarian corridor we wanted to establish for us to move freely and care for the affected people in Muttur," the AFP news agency reported.
clipped from: news.bbc.co.uk 
