Chennai: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), a constituent of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and extending outside support to the Manmohan Singh Government, today (May 29, 2004) demanded that the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) be lifted.

LTTE was banned in the country in 1991 soon after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumbudur near here and the ban was extended for a period of three years a few days back.

MDMK chief Vaiko, a vocal supporter of the LTTE, said "there is no need for the ban in the present circumstances" and it should be lifted.

He said India should not view the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka as an internal matter of that country as most of the countries had recognised it as an international problem.

Asked whether India should play a pro-active role in the ongoing peace process in Sri Lanka, Vaiko said India should play a positive role.

Vaiko, who was detained under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) for over 18 months for allegedly speaking in support of LTTE at Thirumangalam in June 2002 and released on bail on the eve of Lok Sabha polls, said POTA should be repealed.

He expressed the hope that the law would be repealed soon as UPA had promised in its Common Minimum Programme to withdraw it.