India Tuesday urged Sri Lanka to agree to the evacuation of thousands of civilians caught in the conflict zone with rebel Tamil Tigers and offered help. India offered to facilitate the process of bringing the civilians to safety and medical help for the sick and wounded, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.
Referring to reports that the LTTEhad declared willingness to discuss evacuation of "internally displaced persons," India appealed to the Sri Lankan government to work out "appropriate and credible procedures" to permit civilians leave the war zone. These procedures should include international agencies being able to oversee the process, the Indian Foreign Ministry statement said.