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| Six arrests at Tamil London demo | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Six people have been arrested during clashes between the police and Tamils who are staging an ongoing protest outside the Houses of Parliament. | Six 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. | 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. | Protesters want the UK government to act to end war in Sri Lanka. |
| Illegal protest | Illegal protest |
| The Metropolitan Police say numbers are rising, with 1,000 people currently at the demonstration, which at its height saw 3,000 protesters take to the streets of central London. | The Metropolitan Police say numbers are rising, with 1,000 people currently at the demonstration, which at its height saw 3,000 protesters take to the streets of central London. |
| Police tackle protesters at Westminster | |
| Angry protesters have been chanting and waving banners, and there has been some pushing and shoving. | Angry protesters have been chanting and waving banners, and there has been some pushing and shoving. |
| After one surge, three people were taken away on stretchers after cans and a stick were thrown, according to reports. | After one surge, three people were taken away on stretchers after cans and a stick were thrown, according to reports. |
| A police spokesman said officers were continuing to negotiate with protest leaders to "avoid having to make a huge number of arrests". | A police spokesman said officers were continuing to negotiate with protest leaders to "avoid having to make a huge number of arrests". |
| He said they had issued "repeated requests" for images representing the Tamil Tigers - a proscribed organisation in the UK - be removed. | He said they had issued "repeated requests" for images representing the Tamil Tigers - a proscribed organisation in the UK - be removed. |
| The Met police said one protester was held on suspicion of carrying a flag supporting a proscribed organisation, under the Terrorism Act 2000. | The Met police said one protester was held on suspicion of carrying a flag supporting a proscribed organisation, under the Terrorism Act 2000. |
| Police made five other arrests which included violent disorder, breach of the peace and public order offences. | Police made five other arrests which included violent disorder, breach of the peace and public order offences. |
| 'Urgent ceasefire' | 'Urgent ceasefire' |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 Tamil protesters vent their fury Sri Lankans tell of war ordeal | 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 Tamil protesters vent their fury Sri Lankans tell of war ordeal |
| 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. |
| 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". |
| Meanwhile, a diplomatic row blew up over Mr Miliband's recent comment that he was disappointed Sri Lanka had rejected the appointment of former defence minister Des Browne as a special envoy. | Meanwhile, a diplomatic row blew up over Mr Miliband's recent comment that he was disappointed Sri Lanka had rejected the appointment of former defence minister Des Browne as a special envoy. |
| Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said Britain had failed to adhere to the time-honoured diplomatic practice of consultation. | Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said Britain had failed to adhere to the time-honoured diplomatic practice of consultation. |
| 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. |
| FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Police have made six arrests | Police have made six arrests |
| "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." |
| Many protesters carried banners with slogans such as "Stop Sri Lanka's Genocide of Tamils". | Many protesters carried 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." |
| Leicester East MP Keith Vaz said he would deliver a letter to Downing Street on Wednesday calling for the situation to be debated by the UN Security Council, signed by a number of Labour and Lib Dem MPs. | Leicester East MP Keith Vaz said he would deliver a letter to Downing Street on Wednesday calling for the situation to be debated by the UN Security Council, signed by a number of Labour and Lib Dem MPs. |
| 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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