Sri Lanka wins diplomatic war

Sri Lanka celebrated a major diplomatic victory over Western nations determined to investigate alleged war crimes committed during its offensive against the Tamil Tigers.

A little more than a week after government troops defeated the separatist rebels, the island's diplomats managed to lobby Asian support and commandeer a special session of the United Nations' Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The council session, called because of alarm over the high number of civilian casualties as well as the island's treatment of displaced Tamil civilians, ended last night with a resolution praising the outcome of the war.

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay had told the council that there was credible evidence both Sri Lankan forces and the Tigers grossly violated international humanitarian laws.

But Sri Lanka, backed by Asian countries including China, India and Pakistan, managed to torpedo any criticism.