Shelling has reportedly killed a Red Cross worker inside the Tamil Tigers war zone in Sri Lanka.
Heavy fighting is reported in a 2.5 square kilometre combat zone where the Tigers are surrounded.
The International Committee of the Red Cross says one of its local staff and his mother were killed. It is the only international aid agency working inside the war zone.
The Tigers this week accused the government of killing hundreds of civilians while shelling a makeshift medical clinic from three days starting on Sunday. Both sides blamed the other.
Sri Lanka has refused calls to declare another truce. An estimated 200,000 others have fled the rebel area this year as government troops advanced.
