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| Tamils begin third day of protest | Tamils begin third day of protest |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A Tamil protest in central London has entered a third day, although police say only about 25 demonstrators remain at Parliament Square. | |
| More than 3,000 people have taken part in the rally since Monday afternoon, calling for the UK government to act to help end war in Sri Lanka. | |
| Seven people were arrested during clashes with police, who have been trying to bring the protest to an end. | 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 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 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. | 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. | 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. |
| However, the Met said the number of protesters had fallen from about 400 to 25 by Wednesday morning. | |
| 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. | 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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