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| Tamils rally outside Parliament | Tamils rally outside Parliament |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of Tamil protesters are continuing a rally outside Parliament demanding the UK government acts to end war in Sri Lanka. | |
| Minor scuffles broke out as police officers moved demonstrators, who had camped out overnight, off the road and into the centre of Parliament Square. | Minor scuffles broke out as police officers moved demonstrators, who had camped out overnight, off the road and into the centre of Parliament Square. |
| 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. |
| Latest reports suggest the protest is almost over. No-one has been arrested. | Latest reports suggest the protest is almost over. No-one has been arrested. |
| Illegal protest | Illegal protest |
| The BBC's Justin Parkinson, who is at Westminster, said about 500 people appeared to be continuing their protest. The Metropolitan Police's most recent estimate put the number of protesters at 800. | The BBC's Justin Parkinson, who is at Westminster, said about 500 people appeared to be continuing their protest. The Metropolitan Police's most recent estimate put the number of protesters at 800. |
| At about 0950 BST (0850 GMT), our reporter said tired-looking protesters were calmly seated on the green, chanting and banging drums. | At about 0950 BST (0850 GMT), our reporter said tired-looking protesters were calmly seated on the green, chanting and banging drums. |
| Earlier scenes from Parliament Square though showed protesters boxed in by scores of police officers and police vans. | Earlier scenes from Parliament Square though showed protesters boxed in by scores of police officers and police vans. |
| Some scuffles appeared to break out as police tried to take away Tamil flags. But until then police had described the atmosphere as peaceful. | Some scuffles appeared to break out as police tried to take away Tamil flags. But until then police had described the atmosphere as peaceful. |
| A police spokesman said officers were trying to minimise disruption to everybody else by moving the protesters off the roads and onto the green outside Parliament. | A police spokesman said officers were trying to minimise disruption to everybody else by moving the protesters off the roads and onto the green outside Parliament. |
| The BBC's Andy Moore said: "I saw women and children caught up in these scuffles and fights." | The BBC's Andy Moore said: "I saw women and children caught up in these scuffles and fights." |
| As the police moved in, one protester lifted a child on to his shoulders, he said. | As the police moved in, one protester lifted a child on to his shoulders, he said. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| The illegal protest has been going on outside the Palace of Westminster since 1600 BST (1500 GMT) on Monday. At its peak as many as 3,000 demonstrators had gathered in the shadow of Big Ben. | The illegal protest has been going on outside the Palace of Westminster since 1600 BST (1500 GMT) on Monday. At its peak as many as 3,000 demonstrators had gathered in the shadow of Big Ben. |
| 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. |
| Services at Westminster underground station were also affected. | Services at Westminster underground station were also affected. |
| 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 had spent the night covered with sheets and blankets as children slept, despite the noise. | The BBC's Andy Moore said families had spent the night covered with sheets and blankets as 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. |
| 'Stop genocide' | 'Stop genocide' |
| 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. |
| "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 of the protesters are carrying banners with slogans such as "Stop Sri Lanka's Genocide of Tamils", chanting or banging drums. | Many of the protesters are carrying banners with slogans such as "Stop Sri Lanka's Genocide of Tamils", chanting or banging drums. |
| 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. |
| 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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