Geneva  - Thousands of ethnic Tamils from all over Switzerland and beyond gathered outside the UN headquarters in Geneva Wednesday to protest the Colombo government's action in northern Sri Lanka and to demand help from the United Nations.

Organisers claimed some 15,000 were taking part in the angry demonstration, which prompted a major police presence.

The action came after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa predicted the army would defeat separatist Tamil Tiger rebels within days, ending a civil war that has ravaged the country for nearly three decades.

Rajapaksa was speaking in a nationwide address marking the 61st anniversary of the island's independence from Britain. (dpa)