Karuna to PM: Give ultimatum to Lanka

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has sent a telegram to the Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi, and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

In the communication, he has insisted on an ultimatum to the Sri Lankan government for immediate ceasefire to save lakhs of Tamils.

"All nations including the UN should pressurise the Sri Lankan government to announce ceasefire immediately. I insist the Prime Minister, UPA Chairperson and External Affairs Minister give an ultimatum to the Sri Lankan government for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Sri Lanka and save lakhs of Tamils in Sri Lanka," he said in the telegram.

The war situation in Lanka is alarming and predicament of Tamils is very critical, the telegram further said.

Last week, Karunanidhi had sent telegrams to the three leaders, urging New Delhi to snap all diplomatic ties with Colombo if it does not honour India's call for a ceasefire.

Meanwhile in Sri Lanka, thousands of civilians are fleeing the conflict zone after the 24-hour deadline set by President Rajapakse for the LTTE Chief Prabhakaran to surrender has now expired.

There are reports that the Sri Lankan army may now be moving in for a final assault against the rebels. However, the army claims that it is continuing to rescue civilians from LTTE held area.

But both the LTTE and the army are accusing each other of killing civilians in the conflict zone -- a 20 sq km coastal patch in the north of the island where the Tigers have been restricted.