Political parties in Tamil Nadu today welcomed the Madras High Court order staying the execution of the three convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and also the Tamil Nadu Assembly`s resolution appealing the President to reconsider the mercy pleas.

The Tami Nadu Legislative Assembly today adopted a resolution urging the President to commute the death sentence of the three condemned prisoners - Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan - in the Rajiv Gandhi assasination case.

The House unanimously adopted the resolution moved by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Speaking on the resolution, the Chief Minister said considering the emotional pleas made by the people of the state and leaders of various political parties, the President should reconsider her decision and commute the death sentence.

Welcoming the high court order and the resolution, the CPI put on hold its proposed fast on September 3 to press its demand for the commutation of the death sentence of Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan.

Admitting a petition by the three, the high court stayed for eight weeks their execution fixed for September 9.

CPI state Secretary D Pandian in a statement thanked Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and members of the Assembly for passing the resolution requesting President Pratibha Patil to reconsider the clemency petitions of the three convicts, which she (the President) had recently rejected.

Principal opposition in the assembly DMDK welcomed the adoption of the unanimous resolution .

MDMK leader Vaiko, who has been in the forefront of the campaign for commuting the death sentence of the three, said the entire Tamil community was rejoicing over the high court order and thanked Jayalalithaa for her initiative in the assembly.

The innocent have been saved and justice established, he said in a statement.

PMK also welcomed the state government`s move for passing the special resolution in the assembly.

`However, this is only the first step. The Chief Minister has to call for a cabinet meeting and pass the resolution and then meet the Governor and hand it over,` PMK founder S Ramadoss said in a statement.

All MPs in both the Houses of Parliament should also raise their voice in support of this resolution,` he said.

Puthiya Thamizhagam President K Krishnasamy, while thanking Jayalalithaa in the assembly, compared her to Mother Teresa, saying she had `saved` the lives of the three Tamils.

Film director and founder leader of a pro-Eelam outfit Seeman told reporters that the court order was a `victory for democracy and justice` and thanked Jayalalithaa for moving the resolution.