UN office in Colombo under siege

Some 200 plus supporters led by minister Wimal Weerawansha has laid siege on the United Nations office in Colombo demanding that the UN drop its panel set up to probe alleged war crimes during the last stages of the fighting against the Tamil Tigers in May last year.

The protestors led by the Minister for Housing and Construction Engineering Services Wimal Weerwansa have pitched tent at the entrance to the UN office cutting off all access to and from the compound. 

Mr. Weerawansa has vowed to remain in the area along with the other demonstrators until the UN dumps the panel of experts set up to advise the UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon on accountability issues in Sri Lanka. 

Earlier Mr. Weerawansa had also called on supporters to hold the UN staff hostage if the panel was not scrapped.