Thousands of Tamil protesters forced the closure of London's Westminster Bridge for several hours, demanding the UK government take action to end war in Sri Lanka.

　　Eight rescue boats were sent out amid fears demonstrators would jump en-masse into the Thames River if they could not speak to Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Police say about 3,000 people have been involved but no-one has been arrested.

　　The UN says 150,000 people are trapped in Sri Lanka's northern war zone and Tamils claim human rights abuses. Sri Lanka's government has rejected calls for a ceasefire with the Tamil Tiger rebel group, which wants independence.

　　BBC reporter Andy Moore said that despite the rally being technically illegal, police were still allowing people to join the crowd in hopes they would disperse overnight. However, protestors say they are here for the long term. “There are families covered with sheets and blankets and children sleeping, despite the noise,” he added.

　　‘Stop genocide’

　　Suren Surendiran, of the British Tamils Forum, said the protest was led by students, but that people of all ages from across the UK had joined in.

　　“These are people who have relatives and friends in Sri Lanka; people who have lost brothers and fathers and sisters,” he said. “As British citizens, they want the UK government to act. Rather than just calling for a ceasefire, they should go to the UN security council to demand one.”

　　The protesters occupied the bridge since Monday afternoon, many carried banners that read “Stop Sri Lanka's Genocide of Tamils”, chanted or banged drums. The RNLI (The Royal National Lifeboat Institution) said four lifeboats from London and Kent were on standby at the scene, supported by police and fire launches, since 5 pm BST (British Standard Time) on Monday.