U.N. chief urges Sri Lanka war crimes investigations

NO 'TRIUMPHALISM'

During his trip to Sri Lanka last month, Ban urged the government to improve U.N. humanitarian access to the refugee camps, which hold more than 300,000 people. He told reporters that the government had told him restrictions were being eased and conditions in the camps were better.

Ban has also urged the government to ensure that it seeks reconciliation with the country's Tamil minority and that there is no "triumphalism" over the defeat of the LTTE now that the nearly 26-year war is over.

Sri Lanka's U.N. Ambassador H.M.G.S. Palihakkara told reporters that his government was taking U.N. recommendations to heart. But he said nothing about a full-scale war crimes investigation, something Colombo has said it would not accept.

"We have initiated a process of reconciliation and fact-finding," he said.

Ban also urged Sri Lanka to look after three doctors who were in the LTTE zone during the conflict.

The government has accused them of being propagandists for the LTTE based on comments they made to media about civilian casualties caused by government forces during the fighting. All three are in custody.

The Security Council took no action during its meeting on Sri Lanka. U.N. diplomats say that Russia, China and others on the 15-nation council believe that the war against the LTTE was a domestic issue that Sri Lankan authorities should be allowed to address on their own.

(Additional reporting by Edith Honan)