Police moved Tuesday to contain the protest by Tamils along University Avenue in Toronto but the road remains closed to regular traffic for a second full day.

Several hundred protesters have been gathered in front of the U.S. Consulate since Sunday evening, hoping to pressure the U.S. into taking action to stop the fighting in Sri Lanka between government troops and rebel Tamil forces.

The protesters say civilians are caught in the middle of the fighting but Sri Lanka says it won't let up until it finishes off the rebel fighters.

The protest has affected an important route in the city.

University Avenue is closed to traffic between Dundas Street West and Queen Street West.

Streetcar traffic along Dundas has also been disrupted.

On Monday police said as long as there was no public safety issue they would allow the protest to continue.

On Tuesday afternoon police issued a news release saying "it is likely that University Avenue will remain closed through the evening rush hour" and advised motroists to find other routes.

Police have brought in fencing and the mounted unit and moved the protesters into a smaller area to allow emergency vehicles to use one part of the road.

Protesters say they may stay outside the consulate for days.