Britain must seek United Nations Resolution for ceasefire in Sri Lanka

12.00.00am GMT Mon 2nd Feb 2009

With the humanitarian situation rapidly deteriorating in Sri Lanka, the Liberal Democrats have called on the British Government to seek a resolution of the United Nations Security Council demanding a ceasefire in Sri Lanka. Edward Davey MP, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, has written to the Prime Minister, urging him to repeat his Government efforts that achieved a similar resolution in the conflict in Gaza.

Commenting Simon Hughes said:

"Gordon Brown has said publicly he is in favour of a ceasefire in Sri Lanka - something that I warmly welcome. But now that must be backed up in the strongest possible way, with a resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire and peace talks at the United Nations Security Council.

"The whole world must say to everyone involved in this vicious war that the lives of the civilians must come first, that the fighting must stop and that humanitarian assistance must be allowed in immediately.

"We urgently need action, not just words, and a resolution at the Security Council would produce the greatest possible pressure for peace."