Nearly 200 pro Tamil protesters are occupying  Parliament Square today as their demonstration for the UK to intervene Sri Lanka's civil war enters a third day.

The masses braved last nights wind and rain in makeshift shelters.

The Metropolitan Police said those remaining were not causing any disruption and would be allowed to stay.

There was chaos yesterday when the illegal pro Tamil protest outside the Houses of Parliament erupted in violence.

Seven arrests, one under terror laws

Seven people were arrested during the face off between up to 500 protesters and police around 4pm.

One arrest was made on suspicion of carrying a flag supporting a proscribed organisation, under the Terrorism Act 2000. The other six arrests included one for violent disorder, another for breach of the peace and two for public order offences.

Up to 5,000 staged a sit down on Westminster Bridge and officers had to forcibly remove them.

Displaying emblem of banned terror group

Officers, police boats and vans are ringing the area which is filled with chanting flag waving protesters, openly displaying the emblem of the Tamil Tigers - a banned terrorist group in the UK.

Westminster Bridge and surrounding roads were closed during this mornings rush hour causing major traffic disruption.

A police spokesman said the group had ignored a warning to disperse so officers moved in to clear the roads and moved them onto the green outside Parliament.

'Kettled' in - man jumps in Thames

Hundreds of demonstrators were 'kettled' to move them off the roads and into Parliament Square, sparking sporadic violence similar to that witness at the G20 protests last week.

Several protesters needed medical attention for minor injuries including one man who jumped into the into the Thames on Monday - another hurled himself into the chilly waters today.

Protesters want the UK government to act to end war in Sri Lanka.

UN call for "urgent ceasefire" - Civil war nearing end

The upheaval comes during the death throws of the Tamil Tiger uprising and a 25 year old civil war in Sri Lanka draws to an end.

The United Nations says 150,000 people are trapped in the northern war zone while Tamils claim they are victims of human rights abuses.

Sri Lanka's government has rejected calls for a ceasefire with the rebels, who want independence - the group is staring defeat in the face after being pushed back onto a narrow peninsular.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the UK government was "very concerned" about civilians caught up in fighting and stressed the need for a humanitarian ceasefire.

The United Nations says more than 2,800 civilians may have been killed and 7,000 others injured in the fighting in the north-east in the last two months. The Sri Lankan government disputes these figures.

Photo - Flickr -  Quarsan