This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8482963.stm

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Sri Lanka poll victory challenged Sri Lanka poll victory challenged
(about 1 hour later)
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been declared the winner of Sri Lanka's presidential poll, but the outcome was immediately rejected by his challenger. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been declared the winner of Sri Lanka's presidential poll but the outcome was immediately rejected by his challenger.
Gen Sarath Fonseka promised a legal challenge to the outcome of the ballot, the first since Tamil Tiger rebels were defeated after 25 years of civil war.Gen Sarath Fonseka promised a legal challenge to the outcome of the ballot, the first since Tamil Tiger rebels were defeated after 25 years of civil war.
The Elections Commission declared Mr Rajapaksa the victor with 57.8% of votes cast, to 40% for his main rival.The Elections Commission declared Mr Rajapaksa the victor with 57.8% of votes cast, to 40% for his main rival.
Troops earlier surrounded the Colombo hotel where Gen Fonseka is staying.Troops earlier surrounded the Colombo hotel where Gen Fonseka is staying.
A government spokesman told the BBC they did not intend to hold Gen Fonseka but were looking for army deserters. A government spokesman told the BBC it did not intend to hold Gen Fonseka but were looking for army deserters.
A military spokesman said the troops' deployment was a "protective measure".A military spokesman said the troops' deployment was a "protective measure".
AT THE SCENE Anbarasan Ethirajan, BBC News, Colombo Troops remain outside the hotel where Gen Fonseka is staying. ANALYSIS Charles Haviland, BBC News, Colombo The surprise challenger in this race, Gen Sarath Fonseka, alleges that there are sufficient grounds to ask the elections commissioner, Dayananda Dissanayake, to annul the outcome of this historic post-war poll.
A short while ago, Gen Fonseka told a news conference he wanted the elections annulled following widespread irregularities in the run-up. His reasons include the inability of many internally displaced Sri Lankan Tamils to cast their vote because of inadequate transport between camps and villages; and also the alleged misuse of state resources by the president's side, including the use of public funds for Mahinda Rajapaksa's campaign.
He has written to the Elections Commission listing his complaints and the reasons why he believes the result should be cancelled. He thinks he could have won had it not been for the government's misuse of state media. Independent monitoring groups back up many of his complaints. Mr Dissanayake does, too, to some extent.
He was also critical of the government's withdrawal of some of his security detail, saying there had been plans to assassinate him if he left the building. He said that is why he wanted to go abroad for a short while. But it may be difficult for the general to present a strong case for annulment. The margin of victory is much larger than many predicted, with Mr Rajapaksa getting more than six million votes, compared with something over four million for Gen Fonseka.
The government said there were no restrictions on him leaving the hotel. Also, despite many election day irregularities, there were not complaints of very wide-scale chaos or vote rigging.
The BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan, who is in the same hotel as Gen Fonseka and other opposition leaders, says the troops' presence has created a very tense atmosphere.The BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan, who is in the same hotel as Gen Fonseka and other opposition leaders, says the troops' presence has created a very tense atmosphere.
An opposition spokesman, Rauf Hakeem, said opposition members had appealed to the government over what he said were "high-handed tactics" intended to intimidate them.An opposition spokesman, Rauf Hakeem, said opposition members had appealed to the government over what he said were "high-handed tactics" intended to intimidate them.
He told reporters there were no deserters inside the hotel.He told reporters there were no deserters inside the hotel.
Gen Fonseka has alleged vote-rigging and has lodged several objections with Sri Lanka's electoral commission. Gen Fonseka has alleged vote-rigging and has lodged several objections with Sri Lanka's electoral commission. He has also accused the government of wanting to kill him and said it had removed his personal security from the hotel, leaving him vulnerable.
He has also accused the government of wanting to kill him, the BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says. "There is no democracy here. The government is behaving like murderers, not taking responsibility for security of the people," Gen Fonseka said at a press conference.
One of the reasons behind Gen Fonseka's challenge to the election outcome may be that he fears for his own safety in Sri Lanka now he has lost, our correspondent says. "I have sacrificed a lot, I have continued to bring victory of the war to this country. And therefore I have the threat from the terrorists.
"So now they are exposing me without any security. They are hoping that they will do something to me and put the blame on the terrorists," he said.
One of the reasons behind Gen Fonseka's challenge to the election outcome may be that he fears for his own safety in Sri Lanka now he has lost, the BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says.
Defence Minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the brother of the president-elect, has previously expressed concern about Gen Fonseka's allegations that at the end of the war he ordered surrendering Tamil Tiger rebels to be shot. Gotabaya Rajapaksa has denied the claims.Defence Minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the brother of the president-elect, has previously expressed concern about Gen Fonseka's allegations that at the end of the war he ordered surrendering Tamil Tiger rebels to be shot. Gotabaya Rajapaksa has denied the claims.
Since he left the army the higher ranks have very much rallied behind Mr Rajapaksa, our correspondent adds. Gen Fonseka also does not have his own party base, having stood for election backed by a disparate group of opposition parties.Since he left the army the higher ranks have very much rallied behind Mr Rajapaksa, our correspondent adds. Gen Fonseka also does not have his own party base, having stood for election backed by a disparate group of opposition parties.
In pictures: President wins electionIn pictures: President wins election
Independent election observers have been perturbed by two main elements, our correspondent says, one of which is the amount of violence in the run-up to the election - with most complaints about the perpetration of violence laid at the door of the president's side.Independent election observers have been perturbed by two main elements, our correspondent says, one of which is the amount of violence in the run-up to the election - with most complaints about the perpetration of violence laid at the door of the president's side.
The other is what monitors say is the misuse of public resources and state media, particularly state-run TV, which provided blanket coverage of the incumbent president's campaign.The other is what monitors say is the misuse of public resources and state media, particularly state-run TV, which provided blanket coverage of the incumbent president's campaign.
Some 70% of Sri Lanka's 14 million-strong electorate turned out to vote. However, turn-out in the Tamil areas in the north-east, where the fiercest fighting occurred during the conflict, was less than 30%.Some 70% of Sri Lanka's 14 million-strong electorate turned out to vote. However, turn-out in the Tamil areas in the north-east, where the fiercest fighting occurred during the conflict, was less than 30%.
Lucien Rajakarunanayake, a spokesman for Mr Rajapaksa, told the Associated Press news agency that the president had "won a historic and resounding victory in the first free and fair elections held throughout the country since the defeat of terrorism".Lucien Rajakarunanayake, a spokesman for Mr Rajapaksa, told the Associated Press news agency that the president had "won a historic and resounding victory in the first free and fair elections held throughout the country since the defeat of terrorism".
Supporters of Mr Rajapaksa celebrated in the streets of Colombo, waving Sri Lankan flags and setting off fireworks.Supporters of Mr Rajapaksa celebrated in the streets of Colombo, waving Sri Lankan flags and setting off fireworks.
Bitter fightBitter fight
After a violent and acrimonious campaign, during which four people died and hundreds were wounded, Tuesday's election was largely peaceful.After a violent and acrimonious campaign, during which four people died and hundreds were wounded, Tuesday's election was largely peaceful.
In pictures: Sri Lanka votes Profile: Mahinda Rajapaksa Profile: Gen Sarath Fonseka In pictures: Sri Lanka votes Profile: Mahinda Rajapaksa Profile: Gen Sarath Fonseka
But there were serious exceptions, especially in the Tamil-populated north.But there were serious exceptions, especially in the Tamil-populated north.
In the city of Jaffna, the private Centre for Monitoring Election Violence said there were at least six explosions before and just after voting began.In the city of Jaffna, the private Centre for Monitoring Election Violence said there were at least six explosions before and just after voting began.
Later there were two blasts in Vavuniya, the town near the huge camps for people displaced by the war. The organisation said it feared this was a systematic attempt to scare people away from voting.Later there were two blasts in Vavuniya, the town near the huge camps for people displaced by the war. The organisation said it feared this was a systematic attempt to scare people away from voting.
There were also grenade attacks in the Sinhala-dominated centre and south.There were also grenade attacks in the Sinhala-dominated centre and south.
It later turned out that Gen Fonseka had not been able to vote because his name was not on the register.It later turned out that Gen Fonseka had not been able to vote because his name was not on the register.
The two men were closely associated with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers last May but fell out soon afterwards. Gen Fonseka quit the military, complaining that he had been sidelined after the war.The two men were closely associated with the defeat of the Tamil Tigers last May but fell out soon afterwards. Gen Fonseka quit the military, complaining that he had been sidelined after the war.
The president's side accuses the general of courting separatists. The general has accused the president of plotting vote-rigging and violence, something his rival denies.The president's side accuses the general of courting separatists. The general has accused the president of plotting vote-rigging and violence, something his rival denies.
Both main candidates have promised voters costly subsidies and public sector pay rises.Both main candidates have promised voters costly subsidies and public sector pay rises.
However, economists say this will make it hard for the country to meet cost-cutting obligations imposed under the terms of a $2.6bn (£1.6bn) International Monetary Fund loan.However, economists say this will make it hard for the country to meet cost-cutting obligations imposed under the terms of a $2.6bn (£1.6bn) International Monetary Fund loan.
Are you in Sri Lanka? What's your reaction to the reported election result? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Sri Lanka? What's your reaction to the reported election result? Send us your comments using the form below.
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions