UK police scramble to prevent Tamils from jumping into Thames

London, Apr.7 (ANI): Police in London have been placed on alert and life boats have been scrambled to prevent thousands of Tamil protesters from jumping into the River Thames in protest against a delay to impose a cease-fire in Sri Lanka.Four Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboats were placed on standby along with police, fire and the harbour master's vessels, amid concern the demonstrators would attempt to jump en-masse into the river, reports The Sun.Police said that one man fell into the water but was recovered.

The rally began at 4 p.m. yesterday and around 3,000 people were still gathering outside the Houses of Parliament at the junction of Bridge Street and Westminster Bridge.

The protest comes as Sri Lankan government forces close in on Tamil Tiger rebels.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said the protest was peaceful and there had been no arrests so far. (ANI)