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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka poll violence warning | Sri Lanka poll violence warning |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| The main opposition candidate in Sri Lanka's presidential election has accused the ruling party of planning violence to win Tuesday's vote. | The main opposition candidate in Sri Lanka's presidential election has accused the ruling party of planning violence to win Tuesday's vote. |
| Gen Sarath Fonseka said the violence would deter voters and a low turnout would help the party of President Mahinda Rajapaksa rig the election. | Gen Sarath Fonseka said the violence would deter voters and a low turnout would help the party of President Mahinda Rajapaksa rig the election. |
| Election clashes have so far left four dead and hundreds wounded. | Election clashes have so far left four dead and hundreds wounded. |
| The government denies it has been behind the unrest and says it is stepping up security for the poll. | The government denies it has been behind the unrest and says it is stepping up security for the poll. |
| Saturday was the final day of campaigning, with both of the main candidates holding their last election rallies. | |
| 'Gravely concerned' | 'Gravely concerned' |
| President Rajapaksa and Gen Fonseka are closely associated with the government's defeat of the Tamil Tigers last May but the pair fell out bitterly soon after. | President Rajapaksa and Gen Fonseka are closely associated with the government's defeat of the Tamil Tigers last May but the pair fell out bitterly soon after. |
| Mr Rajapaksa's party says security is being enhanced for the vote | Mr Rajapaksa's party says security is being enhanced for the vote |
| Gen Fonseka said on Saturday: "They are getting ready for violence. The violence will support the rigging basically. The violence will reduce the voter attendance, then the rigging will take place." | Gen Fonseka said on Saturday: "They are getting ready for violence. The violence will support the rigging basically. The violence will reduce the voter attendance, then the rigging will take place." |
| The general said he was hoping the security forces would protect his candidacy, adding that he expected most of them to vote for him. | The general said he was hoping the security forces would protect his candidacy, adding that he expected most of them to vote for him. |
| He added: "We can't counter violence with violence. We have to abide by the law." | He added: "We can't counter violence with violence. We have to abide by the law." |
| Mr Rajapakse's office said on Friday it was "gravely concerned" about the violence. | Mr Rajapakse's office said on Friday it was "gravely concerned" about the violence. |
| A ruling party statement said: "Instructions have been given to the authorities to bolster security at sensitive locations and all political events up to and on polling day to ensure that all Sri Lankans can participate safely in the electoral process." | A ruling party statement said: "Instructions have been given to the authorities to bolster security at sensitive locations and all political events up to and on polling day to ensure that all Sri Lankans can participate safely in the electoral process." |
| The election commissioner has urged both sides to work towards easing the violence. | The election commissioner has urged both sides to work towards easing the violence. |
| The result of the election is expected on Wednesday. | The result of the election is expected on Wednesday. |