Britain's Channel 4 has broadcast footage of members of the Sri Lankan Army summarily killing bound and naked prisoners in their final surge against the Tamil Tiger rebels. Today's (Wednesday) London Times reported that the images, shot on a cellphone by a member of the army and smuggled out of the country, were taken when journalists were being banned from the conflict zone. The precise location of the filming was not disclosed. The Times said that shortly after the video was posted on Channel 4's website, Sri Lankans reported that the site had been blocked. The Times quoted the Sri Lankan High Commission in London as denying that the army engaged in atrocities. "In many instances in the past," it said, "various media institutions used doctored videos, photographs and documents to defame the Sri Lankan Government and armed forces. Therefore, we request you to verify the authenticity of the video footage."

26/08/2009