‘‘We still have no access to the area and therefore we can’t say anything about these reports (of civilian losses),’’ ICRC spokesman Sukumar Rockwood told AFP.

Earlier in the day, the Defence Ministry here said security forces had killed another 152 Tiger rebels in a major air, land and sea offensive in the northeastern town of Muttur on Thursday evening.

The reports of the latest fatalities came as Oslo’s special envoy, Jon Hanssen-Bauer, travelled to the rebel-held town of Kilinochchi for what diplomats said were desperate talks to restore the collapsing ceasefire. Bauer, who held talks with Sri Lankan PM Ratnasiri Wickremanayake on Friday, is expected to spend the weekend in rebel-held territory.

-Amal Jayasinghe