He also prodded the rebels to stop using civilians as human shields . Sri Lanka president says end of current military push less than 48 hours away . The government has been under pressure to step down since the army seized control in May last year and launched a campaign against Tamil Tiger rebels who have fought for an independent homeland on the island nation for decades. Red Cross : `` Staff are witnessing an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe '' Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent state in Sri Lanka since 1983 .
Sri Lanka president says end of current military push less than 48 hours away . The government has been under pressure to step down since the army seized control in May last year and launched a campaign against Tamil Tiger rebels who have fought for an independent homeland on the island nation for decades. Red Cross : `` Staff are witnessing an unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe '' Tamil Tigers have fought for an independent state in Sri Lanka since 1983 .