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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Thousands on Tamil protest march | Thousands on Tamil protest march |
| (2 days later) | |
| A hundred thousand protesters have marched through central London calling for an end to war in Sri Lanka, according to police estimates. | |
| The demonstration came as one Tamil protester agreed to suspend a hunger strike opposite the House of Commons. | The demonstration came as one Tamil protester agreed to suspend a hunger strike opposite the House of Commons. |
| Sivatharsan Sivakumaraval, 21, and Prarameswaran Subramaniam, 28, had said they were prepared to die unless the UK intervened in the conflict. | |
| Mr Sivakumaraval has suspended his fast amid efforts to try to arrange talks. | Mr Sivakumaraval has suspended his fast amid efforts to try to arrange talks. |
| The Metropolitan Police said 100,000 people had joined the march and three had been arrested for public order offences. | The Metropolitan Police said 100,000 people had joined the march and three had been arrested for public order offences. |
| They marched from Embankment to Hyde Park, where the demonstration ended with a rally at Speaker's Corner. | They marched from Embankment to Hyde Park, where the demonstration ended with a rally at Speaker's Corner. |
| The two hunger strikers - both students from Mitcham, south London - have not eaten since the early hours of Tuesday. | The two hunger strikers - both students from Mitcham, south London - have not eaten since the early hours of Tuesday. |
| On Friday, after doctors warned of kidney failure, they agreed to take on fluids for the first time since their hunger strike began. | On Friday, after doctors warned of kidney failure, they agreed to take on fluids for the first time since their hunger strike began. |
| 'Win freedom' | 'Win freedom' |
| Mr Sivakumaraval said he would end his protest if he were given a signed pledge that he would be able to take part in talks on the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka. | Mr Sivakumaraval said he would end his protest if he were given a signed pledge that he would be able to take part in talks on the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka. |
| The 21-year-old said: "Our health is very bad. But I want to say to people to stay together, to help the people in Sri Lanka, and that together we will win our freedom. | The 21-year-old said: "Our health is very bad. But I want to say to people to stay together, to help the people in Sri Lanka, and that together we will win our freedom. |
| "I am very pleased with the support we've had because people have come here from different religions and from all over the world." | "I am very pleased with the support we've had because people have come here from different religions and from all over the world." |
| He said he was following the example of Gandhi, adding: "Older brothers also do this in Sri Lanka so we are following them. They are an inspiration to us and that's why we're staying here. | He said he was following the example of Gandhi, adding: "Older brothers also do this in Sri Lanka so we are following them. They are an inspiration to us and that's why we're staying here. |
| "Everyone tries their own way but at the end of the day nothing happens so we need to choose this way." | "Everyone tries their own way but at the end of the day nothing happens so we need to choose this way." |
| Tamil 'suspending hunger strike' | Tamil 'suspending hunger strike' |
| His mother, Vanishri, 38, said she understood how her son felt and was proud of him, but also that she feared for his health. | His mother, Vanishri, 38, said she understood how her son felt and was proud of him, but also that she feared for his health. |
| Mr Sivakumaraval said: "I feel my homeland is even more important than my mum." | Mr Sivakumaraval said: "I feel my homeland is even more important than my mum." |
| Meanwhile, Mr Subramaniam has agreed to start drinking liquids and glucose. | Meanwhile, Mr Subramaniam has agreed to start drinking liquids and glucose. |
| The protesters want Prime Minister Gordon Brown and UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon to agree to meet their representatives. | The protesters want Prime Minister Gordon Brown and UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon to agree to meet their representatives. |
| Earlier, Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes said he would try to arrange for a delegation of protesters to visit the UN, Washington and Brussels with Des Browne, the government's special envoy to Sri Lanka, for talks. | Earlier, Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes said he would try to arrange for a delegation of protesters to visit the UN, Washington and Brussels with Des Browne, the government's special envoy to Sri Lanka, for talks. |
| Mr Hughes said Mr Sivakumaraval had agreed to accept some food on the condition that he could join Des Browne at the talks. | Mr Hughes said Mr Sivakumaraval had agreed to accept some food on the condition that he could join Des Browne at the talks. |
| Doctors had said he was well enough to attend a rally at Hyde Park Corner after the march, Mr Hughes added. | Doctors had said he was well enough to attend a rally at Hyde Park Corner after the march, Mr Hughes added. |
| The rebel Tamil Tigers started fighting in the 1970s for a separate state for Tamils in Sri Lanka's north and east. They argue they have been discriminated against by successive Sinhalese-dominated governments. | The rebel Tamil Tigers started fighting in the 1970s for a separate state for Tamils in Sri Lanka's north and east. They argue they have been discriminated against by successive Sinhalese-dominated governments. |
| They are a banned terrorist group in many countries, including the UK. | They are a banned terrorist group in many countries, including the UK. |
| Thousands of Sri Lankans living in the UK have taken part in the rally that began on Monday afternoon in London's Parliament Square. | Thousands of Sri Lankans living in the UK have taken part in the rally that began on Monday afternoon in London's Parliament Square. |
| They say thousands of civilians in northern Sri Lanka are in danger as its government continues an offensive to "wipe out" the Tamil Tigers. | They say thousands of civilians in northern Sri Lanka are in danger as its government continues an offensive to "wipe out" the Tamil Tigers. |
| They are calling for the UK government to act to help end the war and insist they will remain until a ceasefire is called and food and medical aid is allowed to reach civilians. | They are calling for the UK government to act to help end the war and insist they will remain until a ceasefire is called and food and medical aid is allowed to reach civilians. |
| Mr Browne said that he supported a ceasefire and the British government remained concerned about the plight of civilians caught up in the conflict. | Mr Browne said that he supported a ceasefire and the British government remained concerned about the plight of civilians caught up in the 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 of Sri Lanka 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 of Sri Lanka in the last two months. The Sri Lankan government disputes these figures. |