Gaza and Sri Lanka; "A Disturbing Parallel"

(26 Jan 09 - RV) The UN in Sri Lanka says scores of civilians were killed or injured heavy battles between Government troops and Tamil Tigers this weekend after the army drove the insurgents from their last major stronghold, Mullaittivu.

The Director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, Dr. Jehan Perera, compares the humanitarian situation in the north to the recent fighting in Gaza:

Meanwhile, the EU's foreign aid chief visited Gaza today and condemned its rulers Hamas for acting like "a terrorist movement", while criticising Israel's offensive and appealing to the Jewish state to let in more aid.

In Cairo, Palestinian negotiators at truce talks say a lasting ceasefire will only come once the rival Hamas and Fatah factions reconcile.

We discussed the future of the peace process with the co-founder of the independent Israel-Palestine Centre for Research and Information, Gershon Baskin