LTTE recruited tsunami-orphaned as child soldiers -US report

UNITED STATES: The LTTE recruited tsunami orphaned children into its fighting units picking them from survivors' camps in the North and East, a new US Government report on Child Labour revealed.

"After the tsunami struck Sri Lanka in December 2004 there were reports of traffickers buying and selling orphans," the report said adding that the LTTE also recruited children from survivors' camps.

The report also found that war ravaged Afghanistan is a "country of origin" for children trafficked for sex and labour, as well as harvesting of human organs."

The report surveyed 137 countries and territories that receive US trade benefits, using information from US embassies, foreign governments and Non Governmental groups as well as field visits by Labour Department staff.

- Reuters