Brown will not back Lanka's bid to host Commonwealth summit

London, Nov.27 (ANI): British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that he will block Sri Lanka's bid to host the next Commonwealth summit because of the conduct of its military campaign against the Tamil Tigers.

According to The Times, Brown plans to tell the current Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) summit opening today in Trinidad that Sri Lanka should not be considered.

The summits are held every two years and hosting them is a very prestigious honour.

The brings together 53 members from four continents, representing almost a third of the world's population and a fifth of all global trade.

A senior diplomatic source said: "We are clear that the UK will not support a Sri Lankan bid. Their conduct of their military campaign against the Tamil Tigers earlier this year - which had a massive impact on the civilian population - was rightly condemned around the world, including by very many people here in Britain. At the time, the Prime Minister urged President Rajapaksa to ensure further suffering was minimised and that the UN had full access to those affected and displaced by the conflict."

The source said: "As the Prime Minister said there must be consequences. And a clear consequence of what happened earlier this year is that we are not in a position to support a bid by Sri Lanka to host CHOGM. We want the next host to reflect the full range of Commonwealth values - and particularly respect for human rights." (ANI)