Oz PM Rudd must condemn Lanka offensive on Tamils

Sydney, May 16 (ANI): Over 100 Tamil protesters have called on Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to condemn the Sri Lankan Government over its offensive against the Tamil Tigers.

Protesters gathered at Sydney's Martin Place and said their demonstrations would continue until peace was brought to the Tamil people.

Tamil spokesman Adrian Francis said chemical weapons were being used against Tamils.

The Daily Telegraph quoted Francis, as saying: "Today, specifically, we've heard news that the Sri Lankan government is using chemical weapons, white phosphorus bombs, on our people."

He said Tamil media was reporting that government troops were bulldozing bunkers with civilians inside.

"The images come straight from the conflict zone, we have complete trust in them, they show honest footage of what's going on."

"We're asking the Rudd Government to call for a permanent ceasefire and to put pressure on the Government to allow urgent humanitarian aid. Food and medicine are being used as weapons of war and we need the Australian Government to speak up and condemn the Sri Lankan Government for this genocide against the Tamil people," Francis said. (ANI)