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| Tamils begin third day of protest | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| About 400 Tamil demonstrators remain in London's Parliament Square as their protest enters a third day. | |
| More than 3,000 people have taken part in the noisy rally, calling since Monday afternoon for the UK government to act to end war in Sri Lanka. | |
| Seven people were arrested during clashes with police, who have been trying to bring the protest to an end. | |
| The Tamils have insisted they will remain in front of Parliament until a cease-fire is called. | |
| They say the thousands of civilians in northern Sri Lanka are in danger as its government continues an offensive to "wipe out" the rebel Tamil Tigers group. | They say the thousands of civilians in northern Sri Lanka are in danger as its government continues an offensive to "wipe out" the rebel Tamil Tigers group. |
| Police say the demonstrators' action is unlawful because they did not give notice of the rally, which attracted 3,000 people and led to the closure of Westminster Bridge at its height. | |
| A Metropolitan Police spokesman said officers had negotiated with community leaders throughout Tuesday to bring the rally to an end without making large numbers of arrests. | |
| Police tackle protesters at Westminster | Police tackle protesters at Westminster |
| These efforts had failed, despite the backing of MPs. | |
| "An operation has been put in place around those remaining in Parliament Square to ensure that disruption to London is kept to a minimum and the protest remains static within the square for participants' own safety," the spokesman added. | "An operation has been put in place around those remaining in Parliament Square to ensure that disruption to London is kept to a minimum and the protest remains static within the square for participants' own safety," the spokesman added. |
| Trouble had flared earlier as scores of officers moved hundreds of demonstrators off the roads and into Parliament Square. | Trouble had flared earlier as scores of officers moved hundreds of demonstrators off the roads and into Parliament Square. |
| There was some pushing and shoving and reports suggested that, after one surge, three people were taken away on stretchers after cans and a stick were thrown. | There was some pushing and shoving and reports suggested that, after one surge, three people were taken away on stretchers after cans and a stick were thrown. |
| Some demonstrators were treated for minor injuries. | Some demonstrators were treated for minor injuries. |
| Police had issued "repeated requests" for flags bearing images representing the Tamil Tigers - a banned group in the UK - to be removed. | Police had issued "repeated requests" for flags bearing images representing the Tamil Tigers - a banned group in the UK - to be removed. |
| The need for a humanitarian ceasefire is now even more urgent - it is vital that civilians are able to move away from danger to safety David MilibandForeign Secretary In pictures: Tamils' London rally Tamil protesters vent their fury Sri Lankans tell of war ordeal | The need for a humanitarian ceasefire is now even more urgent - it is vital that civilians are able to move away from danger to safety David MilibandForeign Secretary In pictures: Tamils' London rally Tamil protesters vent their fury Sri Lankans tell of war ordeal |
| The police said two protesters were held on suspicion of carrying a flag supporting a proscribed organisation, under the Terrorism Act 2000. | The police said two protesters were held on suspicion of carrying a flag supporting a proscribed organisation, under the Terrorism Act 2000. |
| Police made five other arrests for a variety of public order offences. | |
| Two men jumped into the Thames as police tried to persuade the crowd to disperse. They were not believed to have been seriously injured. | Two men jumped into the Thames as police tried to persuade the crowd to disperse. They were not believed to have been seriously injured. |
| The United Nations believes up to 150,000 civilians are trapped in northern Sri Lanka and the Tamils claim they are being subjected to human rights abuses. | The United Nations believes up to 150,000 civilians are trapped in northern Sri Lanka and the Tamils claim they are being subjected to human rights abuses. |
| Vijay Mahalingam, 28, of Harrow, north-west London, said they were calling on governments of the world to "wake up" to Sri Lanka's problems. | Vijay Mahalingam, 28, of Harrow, north-west London, said they were calling on governments of the world to "wake up" to Sri Lanka's problems. |
| "Last week, the most powerful men in the world were here in London but there was no mention of the struggle lots of our people have to face on a daily basis." | "Last week, the most powerful men in the world were here in London but there was no mention of the struggle lots of our people have to face on a daily basis." |
| FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband has insisted the government was "very concerned" about civilians caught up in fighting in Sri Lanka. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband has insisted the government was "very concerned" about civilians caught up in fighting in Sri Lanka. |
| He described reports suggesting the Sri Lankan military were fighting inside a 'no-fire zone', where the civilian population is concentrated, as "deeply worrying" and said the need for a ceasefire was "even more urgent". | He described reports suggesting the Sri Lankan military were fighting inside a 'no-fire zone', where the civilian population is concentrated, as "deeply worrying" and said the need for a ceasefire was "even more urgent". |
| 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. |
| 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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