CPI (M) urges New Delhi not to give arms to Sri Lanka

Coimbatore, Feb 25 (ANI): The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) has said New Delhi should not supply any arms to Sri Lanka as long as the conflict between Colombo and the Tamil rebels was not resolved.

"As far as our stand is concerned, we do not want any supply of arms to the Sri Lanka Government at this stage till there's a settlement," said Prakash Karat, general secretary of CPI (M).

Karat said New Delhi should "make more efforts to impress upon the Sri Lankan Government" to put in a ceasefire.

"The Sri Lankan Government has not responded to the appeals from the international community, United Nations and other internationals agencies to cease the fighting so that civilian population can be taken out of the area. We think, the government of India should make more efforts to impress upon the Sri Lankan government," Karat said.

The government has long said the Tigers have a choice - surrender or be destroyed.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has brought pressure on the government to act to save Sri Lankan Tamils.

The United Nations, the European Union and others have all expressed concern about reports of civilian casualties. The military says civilians may have been killed but that the numbers given have been inflated for propaganda reasons. (ANI)