Tamil protesters continue to block London’s Parliament Square over Lanka offensive
April 8th, 2009 - 4:29 pm ICT by ANILondon, Apr.8 (ANI): Protests by Tamils based in Britain are continuing for the third day in and around London’s Parliament Square.
Police arrested seven people on Tuesday as a crowd protested against the Sri Lankan government’s offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels and alleged human rights abuses.
Up to 5,000 people - including women and babies - forced the closure of nearby Westminster Bridge by staging a sit-in on Monday night, reports the Daily Express.
The bridge was reopened to traffic at around 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
The Sri Lankan government has rejected international calls for a ceasefire, claiming it is on the verge of defeating the Tamil Tigers, a rebel group which is fighting for an independent homeland.
The protesters say the lives of thousands of civilians are in danger and want the UK government to take action.
Leicester East MP Keith Vaz is expected to deliver a letter to Downing Street calling for the situation in Sri Lanka to be debated by the UN Security Council. (ANI)
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- Tamil protesters in London call for Sri Lanka ceasefire - Apr 07, 2009
- Tamil activists accuse Lankan Army of purchasing, making landmine parts - Jan 25, 2011
- Ahead of elections, pro-LTTE journal attacks Karunanidhi - Apr 11, 2011
- India wanted LTTE 'put in its place': Norway report - Nov 11, 2011
- Human rights body protests atrocities on Lankan Tamils - Apr 05, 2012
- Sri Lankans protest against UN findings on civil war - May 02, 2011
- Lanka cease-fire ends - Apr 15, 2009
- Sri Lanka protests over LTTE stamps in France - Jan 03, 2012
- Sri Lanka, Singapore sign trade agreement - Feb 16, 2012
- WikiLeaks: Sri Lanka imported radio equipment for LTTE - Jan 08, 2011
- Tamil Nadu calls for sanctions against Sri Lanka - Jun 08, 2011
- Pro-Tamil supporters label Sonia Gandhi a terrorist - Apr 28, 2009
- Tamil protesters stage sit-in outside British parliament - May 11, 2009
Tags: ceasefire, civilians, daily express, downing street, human rights abuses, independent homeland, international calls, keith vaz, parliament square, protesters, rebel group, sri lankan government, tamil tiger rebels, tamil tigers, tamils, third day, uk government, un security council, verge, westminster bridge
