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Relief ship "not targeted" - ICRC
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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says that a ship carrying its flag came close to being hit by artillery
shells in north-east Sri Lanka.
After arriving with food supplies and aid for civilians, the ship, anchored off the coast at Puthmatalan, was unloading its cargo on to small boats when, the ICRC said, shells fell two- to three-hundred metres away.
Carla Haddad, Deputy Head of communications of ICRC speaking to BBC Sandeshaya from Geneva said that that the ship had unloaded 144 metric tons of essential supplies since it arrived in Puthumatalan on Sunday. LTTE blamed Although the Sri Lankan military blamed Tamil Tiger rebels for the incident, the ICRC said it had no reason to believe the ship was targeted. "We have no reason to believe the ship flying the ICRC flag was targeted by shells which were falling around it while trying to unload supplies," said Carla Haddad. Ship withdrawn The ship had to withdraw off the coast of Puthumathalan back to Trincomalee without unloading the whole 500 metric tons of supplies "due to severe weather conditions". This decision was made in consultation with the Sri Lankan Navy, the ICRC spokesperson added. |
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"We have no reason to believe the ship flying the ICRC flag was targeted by shells which were falling around it while trying
to unload supplies" 
Sri Lankan General to contest election 