Lankan minister quits post amid 'fast unto death' protest

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COLOMBO, July 9 (CNN): A Sri Lankan Cabinet minister on a 'fast unto death' to protest a UN panel announced Friday that he had resigned his post as his supporters marched in Colombo carrying placards condemning the world body.
Crowds carrying portraits of former minister Wimal Weerawansa went to the Russian Embassy to seek Moscow's help in stopping the United Nations from probing alleged war crimes. They handed a memorandum to that effect to an embassy official.
Police said the about 200 people carried placards condemning the U.N. move and shouting slogans against its Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Organizers say a similar request will be made to the Chinese Embassy.