A HARROW councillor began a five-day hunger strike outside the Houses of Parliament today (Friday).

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar (Labour, Roxeth) is protesting against what he said was the persecution and killing of Tamils in his native Sri Lanka.

Her began his vigil as Big Ben struck noon, surrounded by fellow Tamils carrying placards.

Councillor Idaikkadar, a diabetic 55-year-old father-of-two, said: " I must make it clear that this protest is not about politics, race or language but against the violence that has killed more than 100,000 Tamils since the country was granted independence in 1948.

"The world is ignoring this developing tragedy.

"If the international community does not act soon we will be guilty of condoning the massacres of innocent civilians.

"We must intervene and bring both sides to the negotiating table, otherwise we will continue to see more senseless slaughter.

"All we want to do is live peacefully with our fellow countrymen."

There are 12,000 Tamils living in Harrow.

Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas is expected to attend the protest on Monday.