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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka election loser arrested | Sri Lanka election loser arrested |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The defeated candidate in Sri Lanka's presidential election, General 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. |
| The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says he later learned from National Security Director-General Laxman Hulugalle that the charges against the general relate to the alleged violation of rules preventing the discussion of political matters while being a member of the military. | The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says he later learned from National Security Director-General Laxman Hulugalle that the charges against the general relate to the alleged violation of rules preventing the discussion of political matters while being a member of the military. |
| 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 |
| Mr Hulugalle said that military law still covered Gen Fonseka despite his retirement. | Mr Hulugalle said that military law still covered Gen Fonseka despite his retirement. |
| 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". | Mr Hakeem said the action was "authoritarian and vindictive". |
| Mr Rajapaksa won the election by 57% to 40% | Mr Rajapaksa won the election by 57% to 40% |
| 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." | 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. |
| Our correspondent, Charles Haviland, says the arrest was dramatic but not unexpected and there must now be 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%. |