The Ceylon News

The number of civilians ranges from 120,000 to 250,000 in the rebel area

The Sri Lankan government has told civilians to leave an area where it is fighting Tamil Tiger rebels, saying it cannot guarantee their safety.

A statement said the battle in the north-east was at a "decisive stage".

It is unclear how the tens of thousands of people caught up in the fighting can escape. The rebels deny preventing people from leaving the area.

Earlier, the Red Cross said at least nine people were killed by shelling at a hospital in rebel-held territory.

"The government calls on all civilians to enter the demarcated 'safety zone' as soon as possible," the government statement said, AFP news agency reported.

"The government cannot be responsible for the safety and security of civilians still living among LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] terrorists," it said.

Sri Lanka's military says it has designated a safe zone for civilians in a 32 sq km buffer zone on the A-35 main road which links Paranthan and Mullaitivu.

Correspondents say the "safe zone" - declared unilaterally by the government on 21 January - is in territory still controlled by the rebels.

An army offensive has pushed the rebels into a 300 sq km (110 sq mile) corner of jungle in the north-east of the island, which aid agencies say also holds 250,000 civilians.

The government says the number of civilians is closer to 120,000 and that the army has a policy of not firing at civilians.

It accuses the Tamil Tigers of not allowing civilians to leave, saying they are being used as human shields.

The rebels say the civilians prefer to stay where they are under rebel "protection".

The government statement came a day after nine people were killed when shells hit a hospital in the area, the Red Cross says.

There has been no word from the rebels on the government statement or the shelling of the hospital, in the town of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu district.

Pro-rebel websites blamed the army for the attacks. But a military spokesman told the BBC that the army was not responsible.