The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, a constituent of the United Progressive Alliance, which is extending outside support to the Manmohan Singh government, on Saturday demanded that the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam be lifted.

The LTTE was banned in the country in 1991 soon after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination at Sriperumbudur near Chennai. 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."

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. It should play a positive role in the ongoing peace process in Sri Lanka.

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Act for over 18 months for allegedly speaking in support of LTTE at Thirumangalam in June 2002, said POTA should be repealed.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