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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fonseka in S Lanka 'freedom' call | Fonseka in S Lanka 'freedom' call |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Defeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka has been released from detention to appear in the opening session of parliament. | Defeated Sri Lankan presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka has been released from detention to appear in the opening session of parliament. |
| The general, who is being court martialled, called for the "rule of law" in an attack on his arch-rival, President Mahinda Rajapaksa. | The general, who is being court martialled, called for the "rule of law" in an attack on his arch-rival, President Mahinda Rajapaksa. |
| His comments were his first remarks in public since his detention on 8 February on corruption charges. | His comments were his first remarks in public since his detention on 8 February on corruption charges. |
| He travelled under escort from military custody to take up his seat. | He travelled under escort from military custody to take up his seat. |
| Gen Fonseka fell out with the president after the defeat of Tamil Tigers rebels last May. | Gen Fonseka fell out with the president after the defeat of Tamil Tigers rebels last May. |
| He was beaten by Mr Rajapaksa in presidential elections of January 2010. | He was beaten by Mr Rajapaksa in presidential elections of January 2010. |
| 'Speaking with grief' | 'Speaking with grief' |
| "What the country needs is democracy, rule of law, personal freedoms and media freedom," Gen Fonseka told members of parliament attending a swearing-in ceremony for the body's 225 lawmakers. | "What the country needs is democracy, rule of law, personal freedoms and media freedom," Gen Fonseka told members of parliament attending a swearing-in ceremony for the body's 225 lawmakers. |
| The general was alongside former cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga | The general was alongside former cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga |
| During the ceremony, he and other party heads were permitted to offer congratulations to its new speaker - Chamal Rajapaksa, the president's brother. | During the ceremony, he and other party heads were permitted to offer congratulations to its new speaker - Chamal Rajapaksa, the president's brother. |
| "The protection of democracy must begin here in parliament," he said. "The citizens must have freedom of movement, freedom of expression and freedom from illegal detention." | "The protection of democracy must begin here in parliament," he said. "The citizens must have freedom of movement, freedom of expression and freedom from illegal detention." |
| He said he was speaking "with grief" as he had been arrested under false charges. | He said he was speaking "with grief" as he had been arrested under false charges. |
| The general, who was wearing white, shook the hands of other opposition MPs and waved to the public gallery. | The general, who was wearing white, shook the hands of other opposition MPs and waved to the public gallery. |
| The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says that the government is highly sensitive about him. | The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says that the government is highly sensitive about him. |
| Journalists were not allowed to approach him, and state television's report of the opening of parliament ignored his contribution. | Journalists were not allowed to approach him, and state television's report of the opening of parliament ignored his contribution. |
| The general's leftist Democratic National Alliance (DNA) party won seven seats in the elections of 8 April. | The general's leftist Democratic National Alliance (DNA) party won seven seats in the elections of 8 April. |
| The assembly is dominated by the United People's Freedom Alliance led by the president. | The assembly is dominated by the United People's Freedom Alliance led by the president. |
| Mr Rajapaksa's coalition is just short of the two-thirds majority required for the government to rewrite the constitution, which bars the president from standing again when his second term ends in 2016. | |
| Gen Fonseka - who won his parliamentary seat while in detention - had been allowed to attend the opening but would be returned to detention afterwards, government officials said. | |
| His court martial, on charges of allegedly engaging in politics while in uniform and involvement in corrupt arms procurement, was adjourned on Tuesday for two weeks. | His court martial, on charges of allegedly engaging in politics while in uniform and involvement in corrupt arms procurement, was adjourned on Tuesday for two weeks. |
| The general denies all the accusations, saying they are a politically motivated attempt to silence him. | The general denies all the accusations, saying they are a politically motivated attempt to silence him. |
| The main opposition United National Party was soundly beaten in the parliamentary elections, winning just 60 seats, while the main Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance, came third with 14. | The main opposition United National Party was soundly beaten in the parliamentary elections, winning just 60 seats, while the main Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance, came third with 14. |
| On Wednesday, President Rajapaksa appointed DM Jayaratne, a former teacher in his 70s, as prime minister. | On Wednesday, President Rajapaksa appointed DM Jayaratne, a former teacher in his 70s, as prime minister. |
| Mr Rajapaksa is working out who will be in his new cabinet. | Mr Rajapaksa is working out who will be in his new cabinet. |