The authoritative UK newspaper The Times reports that at least 20,000 civilians were killed in the final stages of the Sri Lankan army's offensive against the Tamil Tigers.

The paper bases its report on aerial photographs confidential documents UN documents, witness accounts and expert testimony.

At the end of April, the Sri Lankan army announced it would no longer use heavy weapons to avoid civilian casualties. At that time, the Tamil Tigers had been pushed back into a small area, along with an estimated 100,000 civilians.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says the Tamil separatists recruited child soldiers and used civilians as human shields, while the Sri Lankan army indiscriminately shelled inhabited areas.