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| First post-war polls in Sri Lanka | First post-war polls in Sri Lanka |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The first elections in Sri Lanka since the civil war ended in May are being held in the Tamil-dominated north. | The first elections in Sri Lanka since the civil war ended in May are being held in the Tamil-dominated north. |
| The government has described the votes in Jaffna and Vavuniya, as well as in the southern province of Uva, as a step towards normality in the country. | |
| However, journalists from independent media have been banned from going to the northern towns to cover the voting. | However, journalists from independent media have been banned from going to the northern towns to cover the voting. |
| On Friday, Sri Lanka's defence ministry said it had arrested the new head of the defeated Tamil Tiger rebel group. | On Friday, Sri Lanka's defence ministry said it had arrested the new head of the defeated Tamil Tiger rebel group. |
| Selvarasa Pathmanathan was detained abroad and was being questioned in Sri Lanka, it said. The rebels have confirmed the arrest. | Selvarasa Pathmanathan was detained abroad and was being questioned in Sri Lanka, it said. The rebels have confirmed the arrest. |
| Refugees | Refugees |
| Voters in the two towns of Jaffna and Vavuniya in the Tamil-dominated north will have to choose between a broad government coalition, the main opposition party, which is weaker, and an umbrella group supportive of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). | Voters in the two towns of Jaffna and Vavuniya in the Tamil-dominated north will have to choose between a broad government coalition, the main opposition party, which is weaker, and an umbrella group supportive of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). |
| There are smaller parties too, including a moderate Tamil one contesting Jaffna. | There are smaller parties too, including a moderate Tamil one contesting Jaffna. |
| More than 250,000 Tamil refugees are stuck in government-run camps | More than 250,000 Tamil refugees are stuck in government-run camps |
| The government continues to tighten its grip on society despite its victory in May, and has banned all journalists other than the state-controlled media from the towns. | The government continues to tighten its grip on society despite its victory in May, and has banned all journalists other than the state-controlled media from the towns. |
| Most reporters will have to cover the vote from afar, dependent on officially sanctioned information and selected video from state broadcasters. | Most reporters will have to cover the vote from afar, dependent on officially sanctioned information and selected video from state broadcasters. |
| But there will be some electoral monitoring by human rights groups. | But there will be some electoral monitoring by human rights groups. |
| Life is far from normal in northern Sri Lanka. Near Vavuniya, more than a quarter of a million Tamil refugees are stuck in government-run camps which they are not allowed to leave. | Life is far from normal in northern Sri Lanka. Near Vavuniya, more than a quarter of a million Tamil refugees are stuck in government-run camps which they are not allowed to leave. |
| Refugees in the north were asked to apply to vote if eligible. | Refugees in the north were asked to apply to vote if eligible. |
| But only 6,000 have registered, mostly in camps away from Vavuniya, and it is not clear how much voter education any of them had. | But only 6,000 have registered, mostly in camps away from Vavuniya, and it is not clear how much voter education any of them had. |
| As a result of its victory in the civil war, the government is very popular in the Sinhalese-dominated south and it hopes to do well in the north, too, with a coalition including some parties said to be attached to anti-LTTE Tamil paramilitaries. | As a result of its victory in the civil war, the government is very popular in the Sinhalese-dominated south and it hopes to do well in the north, too, with a coalition including some parties said to be attached to anti-LTTE Tamil paramilitaries. |
| Some of the government's opponents have complained they have been obstructed or intimidated in their campaigning. | Some of the government's opponents have complained they have been obstructed or intimidated in their campaigning. |