Those responsible for war crimes in Lanka must face action:DMK

Chennai, Apr 27: The DMK, a key ally of Congress-led UPA at the Centre, today appealed to the Union government to make all efforts to ensure that those responsible for alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka faced action.

Referring to a UN report on ''tens of thousands'' civilian casualties in the final stages of war between Lankan armed forces and LTTE, the party's high-level committee said it will consult its coalition partners--Congress, PMK and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, among others,on further course of action.

"Those responsible for these crimes must face action. The centre should make efforts in this regard," a resolution adopted by the committee to discuss the situation arising out of party MP Kanimozhi being named in the CBI chargesheet in 2G spectrum scam, said.

It recalled arch rival AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa's statement that ''casualties were common during conflict,'' and said DMK would not make such comments and rather expect action against persons responsible for alleged war crimes.

A UN panel in its report had said that killing of tens of thousands of people in the final stages of civil strife in the island nation could amount to ''war crimes.''

The party also thanked those who had voted for DMK-led alliance in the April 13 assembly polls despite ''misleading tactics'' by Jayalalithaa.

PTI