UN office in Colombo declares 'holiday' following protest against expert panel

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 July 2010, 08:35 GMT]
The United Nations office in Colombo has declared holiday on Wednesday after Wimal Weerawansa, a government minister and leader of National Freedom Front, protested outside the UN office Tuesday. Meanwhile, Mr. Weerawansa on Wednesday told journalists that their protesters will launch a fast unto death campaign if the UN fails to respond to their demands.

On Wednesday morning protesters stood outside the UN office holding placards and slogans and protesting.

The mob led by Weerawansa threatened more than 100 police officials who were guarding the UN premises Tuesday evening. When the policemen refused to withdraw their protection to the UN office, Weerawansa phoned Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and forced the policemen to listen to the conversation instructing them to withdraw from the site.

A police officer was also manhandled by the mob.

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