The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday suspended 1,200 of the 5,000 striking medicos after its talks with the students' unions broke down over their refusal to call off their four-week old stir.

The disciplinary action, which will prevent students from taking their exams in June, came after the deadline given by the government to call off their strike expired.

Earlier, representatives of the striking students met Director of Medical Education C Ravindranath and submitted a memorandum of demands.

The students have been on strike since April 23 pressing for Medical Council of India's recognition to as many as 79 courses offered in various government and private medical colleges, increase in stipend and ban on opening of new private medical colleges.