50 Killed in Hospital Attack in Sri Lanka

The decades-long civil war in Sri Lanka appears to be coming to a close as violence increases sharply. Separate attacks on a hospital in a tiny strip of land still held by the Tamil Tigers - the Sri Lankan rebel force - have resulted in massive casualties and deaths. Despite claims from the Sri Lankan government that they would not use heavy artillery in the area, the same hospital has been virtually destroyed in two separate rounds of bombings.

As the fighting escalates, both sides appear to be using the 50,000 civilians in the area as simultaneous targets and deterrents in trying to get the other side to pull back. At this point, it would appear that the remaining rebel forces are surrounded and that there is no chance for escape.

Despite international calls for a cease fire, the fighting continues to rage, even taking the life of a Red Cross worker in recent days. With the small land area held by the rebels reduced to roughly the size of Central Park in New York, it seems as though the end is very near.

There seems no clear answer as to what would happen should the rebels finally fall and whether or not they would eventually be given a voice in the Sri Lankan government.