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| Clashes as Tamils rally in London | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Four people have been arrested during clashes between the police and Tamils who are staging an ongoing protest outside the Houses of Parliament. | |
| Scores of police officers boxed in hundreds of demonstrators to move them off the roads and into Parliament Square, sparking minor scuffles. | |
| Some needed medical attention for minor injuries and a man is in hospital after jumping into the Thames on Monday. | Some needed medical attention for minor injuries and a man is in hospital after jumping into the Thames on Monday. |
| Protesters want the UK government to act to end war in Sri Lanka. | |
| Illegal protest | Illegal protest |
| The Metropolitan Police estimate 500 are continuing their protest, which at its height saw 3,000 people take to the streets of central London. | The Metropolitan Police estimate 500 are continuing their protest, which at its height saw 3,000 people take to the streets of central London. |
| The latest scenes from Westminster showed angry protesters chanting and waving banners, with some pushing and shoving. | The latest scenes from Westminster showed angry protesters chanting and waving banners, with some pushing and shoving. |
| Earlier, protesters in Parliament Square were surrounded by scores of police officers and police vans. | Earlier, protesters in Parliament Square were surrounded by scores of police officers and police vans. |
| These are people who have relatives and friends in Sri Lanka; people who have lost brothers and fathers and sisters Suren SurendiranBritish Tamils Forum In pictures: Tamils' London rally | These are people who have relatives and friends in Sri Lanka; people who have lost brothers and fathers and sisters Suren SurendiranBritish Tamils Forum In pictures: Tamils' London rally |
| Some scuffles appeared to break out as police tried to take away Tamil flags. Until then, police had described the atmosphere as peaceful. | Some scuffles appeared to break out as police tried to take away Tamil flags. Until then, police had described the atmosphere as peaceful. |
| A police spokesman said the group had ignored a warning to disperse so officers moved in to clear the roads and moved them onto the green outside Parliament. | A police spokesman said the group had ignored a warning to disperse so officers moved in to clear the roads and moved them onto the green outside Parliament. |
| Police made four arrests - one for violent disorder, another for breach of the peace and two for public order offences. | Police made four arrests - one for violent disorder, another for breach of the peace and two for public order offences. |
| A second man jumped into the Thames on Tuesday morning, but was quickly recovered, say police. | A second man jumped into the Thames on Tuesday morning, but was quickly recovered, say police. |
| 'Urgent ceasefire' | 'Urgent ceasefire' |
| The UN says 150,000 people are trapped in Sri Lanka's northern war zone while Tamils claim they are victims of human rights abuses. | The UN says 150,000 people are trapped in Sri Lanka's northern war zone while Tamils claim they are victims of human rights abuses. |
| Sri Lanka's government has rejected calls for a ceasefire with the Tamil Tiger rebel group, which wants independence. | Sri Lanka's government has rejected calls for a ceasefire with the Tamil Tiger rebel group, which wants independence. |
| Police have made four arrests | Police have made four arrests |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband insisted the UK government was "very concerned" about civilians caught up in fighting in Sri Lanka and the need for a humanitarian ceasefire was now "even more urgent". | Foreign Secretary David Miliband insisted the UK government was "very concerned" about civilians caught up in fighting in Sri Lanka and the need for a humanitarian ceasefire was now "even more urgent". |
| The illegal protest has been going on outside Parliament since 1600 BST (1500 GMT) on Monday. | The illegal protest has been going on outside Parliament since 1600 BST (1500 GMT) on Monday. |
| Police closed Westminster Bridge and some surrounding roads causing major disruption to morning rush-hour traffic, but these have since been reopened. | Police closed Westminster Bridge and some surrounding roads causing major disruption to morning rush-hour traffic, but these have since been reopened. |
| Participants failed to give notice of the demonstration and have been waving flags showing the emblem of the Tamil Tigers, which is banned in the UK as a terrorist organisation. | Participants failed to give notice of the demonstration and have been waving flags showing the emblem of the Tamil Tigers, which is banned in the UK as a terrorist organisation. |
| The BBC's Andy Moore said families spent the night under sheets and blankets as their children slept, despite the noise. | The BBC's Andy Moore said families spent the night under sheets and blankets as their children slept, despite the noise. |
| Four RNLI lifeboats, supported by police and fire launches, remain at the scene after the Tamils had threatened to leap into the Thames. | Four RNLI lifeboats, supported by police and fire launches, remain at the scene after the Tamils had threatened to leap into the Thames. |
| Suren Surendiran, of the British Tamils Forum, said the protest had been led by students, but that people of all ages from across the UK had joined in. | Suren Surendiran, of the British Tamils Forum, said the protest had been led by students, but that people of all ages from across the UK had joined in. |
| Each day the Tamil media release a list of the dead which we check to see if their name is on there Arani Ananthathevan, student Sri Lanka civilians tell of war ordeal | Each day the Tamil media release a list of the dead which we check to see if their name is on there Arani Ananthathevan, student Sri Lanka civilians tell of war ordeal |
| "These are people who have relatives and friends in Sri Lanka; people who have lost brothers and fathers and sisters," he said. | "These are people who have relatives and friends in Sri Lanka; people who have lost brothers and fathers and sisters," he said. |
| "As British citizens, they want the UK government to act. Rather than just calling for a ceasefire, they should go to the UN security council to demand one." | "As British citizens, they want the UK government to act. Rather than just calling for a ceasefire, they should go to the UN security council to demand one." |
| Arani Ananthathevan, a 22-year-old student, says she has not heard from her cousins and an uncle in Sri Lanka since January and does not know whether they are dead or alive. | Arani Ananthathevan, a 22-year-old student, says she has not heard from her cousins and an uncle in Sri Lanka since January and does not know whether they are dead or alive. |
| "Each day the Tamil media release a list of the dead which we check to see if their name is on there," she said. | "Each day the Tamil media release a list of the dead which we check to see if their name is on there," she said. |
| Many of the protesters are carrying banners with slogans such as "Stop Sri Lanka's Genocide of Tamils". | Many of the protesters are carrying banners with slogans such as "Stop Sri Lanka's Genocide of Tamils". |
| In recent weeks, the clashes between security forces and Tamil Tigers have intensified as the security forces enter what they say is a final push to defeat the rebels and end nearly three decades of conflict. | In recent weeks, the clashes between security forces and Tamil Tigers have intensified as the security forces enter what they say is a final push to defeat the rebels and end nearly three decades of conflict. |
| The United Nations says more than 2,800 civilians may have been killed and 7,000 others injured in the fighting in the north-east in the last two months. The Sri Lankan government disputes these figures. | The United Nations says more than 2,800 civilians may have been killed and 7,000 others injured in the fighting in the north-east in the last two months. The Sri Lankan government disputes these figures. |
| Mr Miliband said: "Nothing excuses the reported use of civilians by the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) as a human shield. | Mr Miliband said: "Nothing excuses the reported use of civilians by the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) as a human shield. |
| "But nor does the LTTE's behaviour excuse any failings by the Sri Lankan government to meet the high standards expected of democratic governments in conflict." | "But nor does the LTTE's behaviour excuse any failings by the Sri Lankan government to meet the high standards expected of democratic governments in conflict." |
| Did you witness the protest? You can send us your views using the form below. | Did you witness the protest? You can send us your views using the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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