Colombo, Sri Lanka: Protesters at the U N building in the Sri Lankan capital forced U N workers to stay in their office on Tuesday to demand the world body end its investigation of rights abuses alleged during the country's civil war.
Hundreds of national flag-waving men marched to the U N compound in Colombo, led by Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa and Buddhist monks. They initially tried to break into the building by breaching the barriers and security walls but settled for a sit-in opposite the gate.
"We warn the U N to withdraw the (investigating) panel if they want to get the employees out," said Weerawansa.
The number of employees within the U N offices was not known.
Government troops crushed the Tamil Tiger rebels last year, ending their 25-year campaign for an independent state for ethnic minority Tamils. Human rights groups have accused government forces and Tamil rebels of deliberately targeting civilians.
U N Secretary General Ban ki-Moon last month appointed a three-member panel to advise him on allegations of human rights abuses.
According to the U N, more than 7,000 civilians were killed in the last five months of the fighting alone.
Sri Lanka has denied targeting civilians and has appointed its own "Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission" to investigate any alleged abuses. It has rejected the U N initiative as a breach of the country's sovereignty.
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