Colombo - The United Nations and Red Cross on Thursday helped evacuate about 350 critically ill or injured people from areas in northern Sri Lanka where fighting between government troops and Tamil rebels is raging, a medical doctor based in the north said.

The patients and the injured were trapped in the Pudukudirippu hospital, 385 kilometres north-east of Colombo.

Dambulla, Jan. 28 : India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the opening one-day international here on Wednesday to gain a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Replying to Sri Lanka''s score of 246 for seven in 50 overs, India scored 247-4 in 48.1 overs.

Half-centuries from Gautam Gambhir (62), Suresh Raina (54) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (61 not out) outdid a superlative century from Sanath Jayasuriya (107) as India successfully chased the highest total in a day game in Dambulla.

Colombo - An estimated 6,000 civilians have moved into a "safe zone" declared by the government in northern Sri Lanka as fighting between security forces and Tamil rebels continued, a government minister said Wednesday.

Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rakbukwella told journalists that civilians have started to move into the safe zone, covering an area of three villages in Mullaitivu district, 370 kilometres north-east of the capital.

Colambo, Jan. 28 : The External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has called on the Lankan Pesident Mahindra Rajapakse to take steps to ensure the safety of Sri Lankan Tamils during the ongoing conflict against the LTTE.

"We have requested that the basic effort should be to help the civilians and ensure their safety and security," Mukherjee said after his meeting with Rajapakse.

Rajapakse assured Mukherjee that Sri Lanka will implement the 13th Amendment devolution package soon.

Oslo - Norway on Tuesday said it was deeply concerned over the situation for civilians in Sri Lanka after the recent government offensive against Tamil rebels.

Earlier Tuesday, some 200 Tamils gathered outside the foreign ministry in Oslo calling for an end to the fighting.

"Norway condemns the ongoing warfare in Sri Lanka and the unacceptable suffering for civilians," Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said in a statement.

New Delhi - India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was s