Associated Press

Colombo, May 30:

Tamil Tiger rebels have recruited fewer underage fighters in recent months, indicating an overall downward trend in the practice, the United Nations’ children’s agency has said, according to a pro-rebel website. “Over the past few months we have seen a very low level of recruitment,” Ted Chaiban, the outgoing UNICEF chief in Sri Lanka, was quoted as saying by the TamilNet website. “It’s a positive trend ... we need to continue that. We need to see more of that happening.” Chaiban said he “welcomed the development and urged the continuation of this positive trend,” according to TamilNet. TamilNet reported the Chaiban’s comments after he met with the rebels’ political chief, SP Thamilselvan, in the rebel capital of Kilinochchi yesterday.