More than 100 Tamils stopped en route to Colombo ahead of Commonwealth summit

More than 100 Tamils have been allegedly prevented from travelling to Colombo ahead of the Commonwealth summit.

The family members of those who disappeared during or after Sri Lanka's civil war were stopped by the military from leaving the north for attending the human rights festival due to begin on Friday, the BBC reports.

According to the report, a team from the UK's Channel 4 TV was also prevented from visiting the former war zone in the north after their train was stopped by pro-government protesters.

The demonstrators accused the channel of supporting defeated Tamil Tiger rebels, the report added.

Some intelligence reports pointed out that this was a politically motivated protest and if these Tamils came to Colombo during the summit, it would have led to a breach of the peace, a minister said.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper and Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam are staying away from the summit, the report added.

The 25-years long civil war faced a final government offensive in 2009, but was dogged by war crimes allegations, with both sides accused of atrocities.

The government soldiers have been accused of killing rebels ready to surrender, as well as shelling hospitals.

However, Colombo has repeatedly denied all allegations.