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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka general calls for calm | Sri Lanka general calls for calm |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Defeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka is appealing for calm, his wife has announced. | Defeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka is appealing for calm, his wife has announced. |
| He made the plea through her after more violent clashes on Thursday linked to his arrest on conspiracy charges. | He made the plea through her after more violent clashes on Thursday linked to his arrest on conspiracy charges. |
| Anoma Fonseka was granted access to her husband at the naval detention centre where he is awaiting a court martial for conspiring against the government. | Anoma Fonseka was granted access to her husband at the naval detention centre where he is awaiting a court martial for conspiring against the government. |
| The general was arrested on Monday for working with "anti-government forces". He has strongly denied the allegations. | The general was arrested on Monday for working with "anti-government forces". He has strongly denied the allegations. |
| UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has discussed the arrest with President Rajapaksa and expressed concern about events in the country, a UN statement said. | |
| Lynn Pascoe, head of the UN's political department, is to visit the island this month, it added. | Lynn Pascoe, head of the UN's political department, is to visit the island this month, it added. |
| Meanwhile, the US and Norway have rebuffed allegations by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa - the brother of President Rajapaksa - that they financially supported Gen Fonseka in the recent election. | |
| Mr Rajapaksa said the government was "100% convinced" that the US and Norway "spent lots of money" on Gen Fonseka's election campaign, and that Western countries with "vested interests" also backed him. | |
| 'Fear for his life' | 'Fear for his life' |
| Mrs Fonseka was speaking as police used batons and tear gas for a second consecutive day against protesters demanding her husband's immediate release. | Mrs Fonseka was speaking as police used batons and tear gas for a second consecutive day against protesters demanding her husband's immediate release. |
| They are trying to break his spirit, but they won't succeed Anoma Fonseka | They are trying to break his spirit, but they won't succeed Anoma Fonseka |
| "He wanted me to convey to the people and especially the troops to remain calm and not to be provoked by his illegal arrest," said Mrs Fonseka, who met her detained husband late on Wednesday. | "He wanted me to convey to the people and especially the troops to remain calm and not to be provoked by his illegal arrest," said Mrs Fonseka, who met her detained husband late on Wednesday. |
| Mrs Fonseka said that her husband had been denied visits by the personal doctor who had treated him regularly for injuries received in a suicide bombing in April 2006. | Mrs Fonseka said that her husband had been denied visits by the personal doctor who had treated him regularly for injuries received in a suicide bombing in April 2006. |
| "I fear for my husband's life," she said, pointing out that shrapnel lodged close to his heart and kidneys needed to be monitored. | "I fear for my husband's life," she said, pointing out that shrapnel lodged close to his heart and kidneys needed to be monitored. |
| She also denied that he had engaged in politics while serving in the military: "Definitely 100% I can assure it. After he removed the uniform, he came to the politics." | She also denied that he had engaged in politics while serving in the military: "Definitely 100% I can assure it. After he removed the uniform, he came to the politics." |
| The government has not detailed what charges Gen Fonseka will face, but Mr Rajapakse has alleged that he had "clearly been plotting a military coup". | |
| Presidential power | Presidential power |
| Human rights groups have expressed disquiet at the general's arrest. | |
| On Thursday the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission warned that Gen Fonseka was being deprived of "due process" because his case was being handled in a military rather than a civilian court. | On Thursday the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission warned that Gen Fonseka was being deprived of "due process" because his case was being handled in a military rather than a civilian court. |
| The opposition has said that the appointment of President Rajapaksa as the new minister for information is another worrying expansion of presidential power. The president already doubles up as defence minister and finance minister. | |
| Last week the Supreme Court ruled that Mr Rajapaksa's new term would begin in November, giving him almost another year in power. | Last week the Supreme Court ruled that Mr Rajapaksa's new term would begin in November, giving him almost another year in power. |