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/8504882.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka election loser arrested | Sri Lanka election loser arrested |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The defeated candidate in Sri Lanka's presidential election, Gen Sarath Fonseka, has been arrested at his office in Colombo. | The defeated candidate in Sri Lanka's presidential election, Gen Sarath Fonseka, has been arrested at his office in Colombo. |
| Gen Fonseka was defeated by incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa last month by six million votes to four million. | Gen Fonseka was defeated by incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa last month by six million votes to four million. |
| Gen Fonseka rejected the results and vowed to challenge them in court. | Gen Fonseka rejected the results and vowed to challenge them in court. |
| The initial allegations brought by the government against Gen Fonseka, 59, were put simply as "committing military offences". | The initial allegations brought by the government against Gen Fonseka, 59, were put simply as "committing military offences". |
| The government had earlier been seeking legal advice on bringing a court martial on charges of plotting to overthrow the administration. | The government had earlier been seeking legal advice on bringing a court martial on charges of plotting to overthrow the administration. |
| He was dragged away in a very disgraceful manner in front of our own eyes Rauff Hakeem,Muslim Congress leader | He was dragged away in a very disgraceful manner in front of our own eyes Rauff Hakeem,Muslim Congress leader |
| Gen Fonseka was in charge of Sri Lanka's army when it defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels last year after a destructive civil war lasting more than a quarter of a century. | Gen Fonseka was in charge of Sri Lanka's army when it defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels last year after a destructive civil war lasting more than a quarter of a century. |
| However, he fell out with President Rajapaksa soon after and the pair fought a bitter election campaign. | However, he fell out with President Rajapaksa soon after and the pair fought a bitter election campaign. |
| War crimes | War crimes |
| Gen Fonseka's wife confirmed to the BBC that her husband had been detained after the security presence around his office in Colombo had been stepped up during the day. | Gen Fonseka's wife confirmed to the BBC that her husband had been detained after the security presence around his office in Colombo had been stepped up during the day. |
| Gen Fonseka's secretary, Senaka de Silva, was also said to have been arrested. | Gen Fonseka's secretary, Senaka de Silva, was also said to have been arrested. |
| Gen Fonseka was meeting a number of politicians who had supported his candidacy. | Gen Fonseka was meeting a number of politicians who had supported his candidacy. |
| The Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem told Reuters news agency: "He was dragged away in a very disgraceful manner in front of our own eyes." | The Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem told Reuters news agency: "He was dragged away in a very disgraceful manner in front of our own eyes." |
| Mr Hakeem said the action was "authoritarian and vindictive". | |
| ANALYSIS Charles Haviland, BBC News, Colombo | ANALYSIS Charles Haviland, BBC News, Colombo |
| What President Mahinda Rajapaksa says Gen Fonseka has done is that he has plotted a coup and the assassination of the president and some of his family. | What President Mahinda Rajapaksa says Gen Fonseka has done is that he has plotted a coup and the assassination of the president and some of his family. |
| But I am getting reports that the government information department says he has been arrested on charges of committing military offences and that could also refer to leaking certain very sensitive state security information. | But I am getting reports that the government information department says he has been arrested on charges of committing military offences and that could also refer to leaking certain very sensitive state security information. |
| Since the election, Gen Fonseka has been responding by strenuously denying the accusations that the government has been spitting out against him. | Since the election, Gen Fonseka has been responding by strenuously denying the accusations that the government has been spitting out against him. |
| A spokesman for the People's Liberation Front told Agence France-Presse: "The general refused to be taken away. They grabbed him and virtually carried him away after threatening the others. There must have been over 100 soldiers." | |
| The politicians at the meeting said the military police had given no reasons as they made the arrest. | The politicians at the meeting said the military police had given no reasons as they made the arrest. |
| Mr Hakeem said Gen Fonseka had complained that because he was no longer in the military he should not have been arrested by military police. | Mr Hakeem said Gen Fonseka had complained that because he was no longer in the military he should not have been arrested by military police. |
| Earlier in the day, Gen Fonseka had said he was prepared to give evidence in international courts on any war crimes charges brought in relation to the civil war. | Earlier in the day, Gen Fonseka had said he was prepared to give evidence in international courts on any war crimes charges brought in relation to the civil war. |
| "I am definitely going to reveal what I know, what I was told and what I heard. Anyone who has committed war crimes should definitely be brought into the courts," Gen Fonseka said. | "I am definitely going to reveal what I know, what I was told and what I heard. Anyone who has committed war crimes should definitely be brought into the courts," Gen Fonseka said. |
| The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says the arrest was dramatic but not unexpected and there must now by questions about whether this is the start of a bigger clampdown on the opposition. | The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says the arrest was dramatic but not unexpected and there must now by questions about whether this is the start of a bigger clampdown on the opposition. |
| After the election, the government had accused Gen Fonseka of divulging sensitive information to the public, and of plotting both a coup and to assassinate the president and his family. | After the election, the government had accused Gen Fonseka of divulging sensitive information to the public, and of plotting both a coup and to assassinate the president and his family. |
| Gen Fonseka has vehemently denied the charges. | Gen Fonseka has vehemently denied the charges. |
| He said he feared an assassination attempt against him and had been told that airports would not allow him to leave the country. | He said he feared an assassination attempt against him and had been told that airports would not allow him to leave the country. |
| Analysts had predicted a closely fought election contest between the two architects of the government's victory over the Tamil Tigers. | Analysts had predicted a closely fought election contest between the two architects of the government's victory over the Tamil Tigers. |
| But in the end President Rajapaksa won the vote comfortably - capturing 57% of the vote, while Sarath Fonseka won 40%. | But in the end President Rajapaksa won the vote comfortably - capturing 57% of the vote, while Sarath Fonseka won 40%. |