CAFOD partners working in the Vanni conflict zone in Sri Lanka have been severely wounded during the latest spate of shelling.

World Council of Churches general secretary the Rev Dr Samuel Kobia has urged the government of Sri Lanka to immediately release from detention a church official who has now been under arrest for nearly a month.

As civilians pour out of the war zone in northern Sri Lanka, seeking safety in temporary displacement camps, the need for medicines, food and shelter is growing quickly says World Vision.

Catholic aid agency CAFOD has expressed grave concern at the fate of an estimated 100,000 civilians, as the Sri Lankan government announced its intention to conduct a ‘final assault’ in the Vanni.

Hundreds of civilians are being killed and seriously injured in artillery and gun attacks as the Sri Lankan Army attempts to eliminate the remaining LTTE rebels trapped in a shrinking "no fire" enclave.

The Sri Lankan government has agreed to a two-day suspension of offensives against Tamil Tiger rebels to enable tens of thousands of trapped civilians to leave the war zone.

One of the two Tamil demonstrators on hunger strike opposite the House of Commons in London has agreed to suspend his fast, reports the BBC. But the protests against the killing in Sri Lanka continue.

An international churches' consultation has appealed to the government of Sri Lanka and the rebel Tigers to halt fighting in order to free tens of thousands of civilians trapped in a war zone.

Clergy from the Church of England are being invited to provide respite for priests in war-torn Sri Lanka. They will take over in safe regions, while Sri Lankan priests support those in conflict zones.

Some 28 hours after their protest began, Tamils are still in Parliament Square in London. They say they will not leave until the UK government pledges to help stop the slaughter in Sri Lanka.