Who can protect Tamil civilians ? USA? UK? UN? LTTE? GOD? NOBODY?

Dozens of Sri Lankan civilians are being killed and many more wounded every day even as the government moves to restrict foreign diplomats and journalists from what has been called a "war without witnesses".

While war rages in north-eastern Sri Lanka, aid agencies say that the outside world is still largely ignorant of the miserable conditions endured by civilians caught up in fighting between the security forces and Tamil Tiger rebels.

Tens of thousands of civilians have been trapped in the conflict zone in the Mullaitivu district, and relief agencies say they are being subjected to continuous shelling, forcing them to hide in bunkers in constant fear of injury or death.