The human rights group, Amnesty International, has criticised the Sri Lankan government, accusing it of violating the human rights of thousands of Tamils who were arrested days after two bombs exploded in the capital, Colombo.The bombs, which killed 20 people last week, have been blamed on the Tamil Tiger rebels.The government has denied infringing the rights of those arrested, saying the move was a necessary security measure.

More than 2,000 people were held following a search operation around Colombo and the north-western district of Puttalam.Amnesty says those arrested faced detention in inhumane conditions as well as being denied access to lawyers, courts and family members.

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