US calls on Sri Lanka to probe alleged war crimes

May 4, 2011, 16:15 GMT

Colombo - A visiting top US official Wednesday called on Sri Lanka to probe allegations of war crimes during its defeat of Tamil rebels in 2009.

US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake told a news conference in Colombo that his government has repeatedly called on Sri Lanka to implement a credible process of accountability, of events during the conflict.

'The domestic (Sri Lankan) authorities have the responsibility that those responsible for violation of international humanitarian law are held accountable,' Blake said.

Blake's remarks came in the wake of the release of an UN report which said there was credible evidence of war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil rebels during the final stages of the fighting in northern Sri Lanka two years ago.

Sri Lanka has denied the allegations of alleged war crimes by its government and is in the process of sending a detailed response to the UN.

Blake also expressed hope that a local commission looking into events during the past eight years of the conflict would achieve progress.

During the final stages of the military operation over 300,000 civilians were confined to a narrow area in the north eastern part of Sri Lanka and the rebels were fighting alongside with them.

There were no accurate figures of civilian deaths, but the UN panel said a number of credible sources have estimated that there could have been as many as 40,000.

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