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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| S Lanka military chiefs dismissed | S Lanka military chiefs dismissed |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A group of senior Sri Lankan military officers have been dismissed for what defence officials called being a "threat to national security". | A group of senior Sri Lankan military officers have been dismissed for what defence officials called being a "threat to national security". |
| The defence ministry said the officers had been "sent on compulsory retirement". | The defence ministry said the officers had been "sent on compulsory retirement". |
| The move follows a bitter general election campaign in which incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa defeated former army chief Gen Sarath Fonseka. | The move follows a bitter general election campaign in which incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa defeated former army chief Gen Sarath Fonseka. |
| Both have claimed there have been assassination plots against them. | Both have claimed there have been assassination plots against them. |
| The BBC Sinhala service has learned those dismissed included at least nine high-ranking officers. | |
| A senior military source told the BBC they included three major-generals and four brigadiers. | |
| A number of the officers worked for Gen Fonseka's campaign in the recent elections. | |
| National Security Director-General Laxman Hulugalle said in a statement that the men had been "involved in party politics". | |
| "They are a threat to the national security of the country," he said. | |
| Election 'fixed' | |
| Gen Fonseka has refused to accept his election defeat, saying his supporters had been intimidated and the result fixed. | Gen Fonseka has refused to accept his election defeat, saying his supporters had been intimidated and the result fixed. |
| A military source told AFP news agency the officers had been sacked to thwart any attempted coup by Gen Fonseka's supporters inside the military. | A military source told AFP news agency the officers had been sacked to thwart any attempted coup by Gen Fonseka's supporters inside the military. |
| In a statement, the defence ministry said an undisclosed number had been "sent on compulsory retirement" because they were considered a "direct threat to national security". | In a statement, the defence ministry said an undisclosed number had been "sent on compulsory retirement" because they were considered a "direct threat to national security". |
| Before falling out, President Rajapaksa and Gen Fonseka were close allies in the military offensive that defeated the separatist Tamil Tigers in May. | Before falling out, President Rajapaksa and Gen Fonseka were close allies in the military offensive that defeated the separatist Tamil Tigers in May. |
| There has been mounting concern in Sri Lankan media about a government crackdown on its critics. | |
| "Now that the president has been re-elected, there appears to be a settling of scores with critics of the government," Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said on Friday. |