Lawyers in Chennai take to the streets over Lankan conflict

Chennai, Feb 12, (ANI): Over 50 lawyers staged a protest here on Thursday to demand the Central Government's intervention in stopping the war in Sri Lanka.

The lawyers started their protest from the Chennai High Court and went towards the regional military office in the city to stage a demonstration.

Chennai Advocate Association President Kanakaraj said that they wanted the Central Government to intervene to stop the war in Sri Lanka and said, "We will continue our protest for our Tamil brothers in Sri Lanka. The Central Government should intervene and urge for the war to be stopped immediately. Indian government should stop supplying any arms to Sri Lanka. We want that our Tamil brothers live in peace. That is our only request."

Last month, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and the two discussed safety measures for Tamils trapped in fighting between the army and Tamil Tiger separatists, and post-war reconstruction.

The visit was also to cool tensions with Tamil Nadu politicians in India's ruling coalition who are sympathetic to the Tigers and are demanding that India should broker a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday said that more than half the 250,000 civilians now trapped in Sri Lanka's war zones may soon flee their homes and require international assistance. (ANI)