Western countries say the protest is a 'breach of international norms'

In a joint statement, Germany, UK, US, France, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Romania, Norway and the EU said a peaceful protest is part of any democracy.

But the statement has raised serious concerns over the blocking access to the UN compound and intimidating UN personnel as a result of the protest led by cabinet Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

The blockade is a “breach of international norms and harmful to Sri Lanka's reputation in the world,” the statement said.

	The minister has offered to resign but to continue the 'fast'

Minister Wimal Weeranwansa has offered to resign saying he doesn't want to embarrass his government.

A close associates of the minister, Vasantha Bandara, says President Rajapaksa has refused to accept his resignation.

"The president had rejected that. He told the members of the politburo that he cannot accept the resignation, basically," Vasantha Bandara told BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo.

Hundreds of people are demonstrating at the UN compound in the capital, Colombo, against a UN panel investigating alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.

'Dissolve' the committee

Two senior presidential officials, however, said they knew nothing of a resignation offer.

	Ban ki-Moon's committee "should be dissolved"

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan and foreign UN staff working at the headquarters were again asked by their bosses not to come to work.

On Thursday the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, has temporarily recalled the local UN chief, Neil Buhne, to New York – a highly unusual act.

There has not been any formal response from the Sri Lankan government but on Friday the foreign minister described the move as hasty.

All UNDP programmes for Sri Lanka will continue, as will the vital work of the other agencies throughout Sri Lanka UN statement

Meanwhile, Leader of the House and Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told journalists that the ruling party strongly objected to Mr. Moon’s appointment of the special panel at a time the president has appointed its own committee to look into alleged war crimes.

“This committee appointed under these circumstances should be dissolved,” the minister, who is a senior leader of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) said.

The United Nations office in Colombo in a statement issued on Friday said that the UNDP country office in Sri Lanka is still functioning as usual.

“It is only the Colombo office of UNDP's Regional Center for Asia and the Pacific, which provides policy advise and services for countries throughout Asia and the Pacific, which is closing. All UNDP programmes for Sri Lanka will continue, as will the vital work of the other agencies throughout Sri Lanka,” it said.