Sri Lanka's military said in Colombo on Thursday that their rescue mission of the Tami civilians from the northeastern no fire zone had been underway.

Tamil civilians stand in line to receive food and supplies in a refugee camp located on the outskirts of the town of Vavuniya in northern Sri Lanka May 8, 2009.[Xinhua]

"Sri Lanka Army 53 and 58 Division are now sweeping around the new civilians safety zone, reveal latest reports from the battlefront. With this maneuver, troops have been able to rescue about 1,000 civilians held hostage by the terrorists in the Vellamullivaikkal area" a statement said.

Over 1,000 civilians have been able to seek refuge with the soldiers of Army 59 Division manning the southern frontage while another 200-250 civilians have been received by troops of 58 and 53 Divisions, the Army said.

Tamil civilians flee to government controlled areas from Tamil Tiger rebels' last territory in Puthukkudiyiruppu, northern Sri Lanka, April 24, 2009. [Chen Zhanjie/Xinhua]

The Army accused the Tiger rebels of firing at civilians who were leaving the narrow coastal strip in the Mullaithivu district which is the last remaining hold for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Air force said some 12 civilians injured due to rebel fire were airlifted.

Sri Lanka's conflict and the humanitarian situation has come under intense international focus with Wednesday's UN security council statement and comments made by the US President Barrack Obama.

Tamil civilians flee to government controlled areas from Tamil Tiger rebels' last territory in Puthukkudiyiruppu, northern Sri Lanka, April 24, 2009. Thousands of civilians fled to government controlled areas from Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels' last territory amid the military's final onslaught on the rebels since Monday. The international community called on the two sides to avoid a bloodbath for the sake of innocent civilians.[Chen Zhanjie/Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2009)