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Violent clashes as S.Lanka's ex-army chief arrested afp, Feb 10. COLOMBO (AFP) – Tensions escalated Wednesday over the arrest of Sri Lanka's former army chief, Sarath Fonseka, with violent clashes outside the Supreme Court, where his wife petitioned for his immediate release. Opposition parties who backed Fonseka in his failed challenge to President Mahinda Rajapakse in January elections also demanded his release and said they feared for his safety in military custody. Fonseka was arrested by troops at his office in Colombo on Monday night and, according to the defence ministry, will be court-martialled on charges of conspiring against the government. More... Published: Wed Feb 10 13:49:45 EST 2010

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Sri Lanka's opposition fears for Fonseka's life AFP, Feb 10. COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka's opposition parties demanded Wednesday the immediate release of former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka, warning that he faced "assassination" in custody. In a joint statement, the parties which had backed Fonseka's failed challenge to President Mahinda Rajapakse in January elections, said they feared for the retired four-star general's life following his arrest. More... Published: Wed Feb 10 13:54:43 EST 2010

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Political supporters clash in streets of Sri Lanka ap, feb 10. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Government supporters hurled stones at thousands of opposition activists demonstrating against the arrest of their defeated presidential candidate in Sri Lanka's capital Wednesday. Clashes began outside the country's Supreme Court, where opposition supporters gathered to protest the arrest of former army chief Sarath Fonseka, who was taken into custody by military police Monday on sedition charges. More... Published: Wed Feb 10 13:54:59 EST 2010

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Sri Lanka Will Hold Parliamentary Elections in April bloomberg, feb 10. Feb. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Sri Lanka will hold general elections in April as President Mahinda Rajapaksa dismissed parliament a day after the arrest of Sarath Fonseka, the defeated opposition candidate in January’s presidential ballot. The 225-member assembly was dissolved at midnight and the elections are “expected to be held in April,” the government said in a statement...

Sri Lanka's opposition fears for Fonseka's life AFP, Feb 10. COLOMBO (AFP) – Sri Lanka's opposition parties demanded Wednesday the immediate release of former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka, warning that he faced "assassination" in custody...

Sri Lanka opposition, in tight corner, rallies for leader Fonseka The Christian Science Monitor, Feb 09, 2010. Sri Lanka police fired tear gas Wednesday at protesters demanding the release of defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka...

No link between Fonseka arrest and run for prez: Lanka envoy TOI, Feb 10. NEW DELHI: A day after the arrest of former army chief Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lankan high commissioner to India Prasad Kariyawasam said the development would have no adverse effect on the island nation’s stability as the charges against Fonseka are not linked to his status as the main opposition candidate in the January presidential elections...

Wife's fears for general imprisoned in Sri Lanka The Independent, Feb 10. Supporters of the seized Sri Lankan opposition leader Sarath Fonseka have vowed to take to the streets of Colombo today to protest against his arrest and detention at an undisclosed location...

Sri Lanka president dissolves parliament, calls poll Reuters, Feb 9. COLOMBO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's newly re-elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa dissolved parliament with effect from Wednesday and called legislative elections, a senior government official said...

A Frankenstein scares Rajapaksa - Opinion ENS, Feb 10. Developments in Sri Lanka have taken a predictable course since President Mahinda Rajapaksa began to view his army commander, General Sarath Fonseka, as a threat to his life as well as his government, in the closing stages of the war against the LTTE and immediately thereafter, last year...

Losing Sri Lanka - Opinion WSJ, Feb 9. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's wide election victory last month handed him a unique opportunity to put his country on a peaceful, democratic and prosperous path after 26 years of civil war...

Editorial: Fonseka’s arrest ArabNews, Feb 10. SRI LANKA’S recently re-elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday dissolved the Parliament and as expected called a new general election, to capitalize on his convincing win in last month’s contest for the presidency...

Leading article: An unjustified and disturbing arrest Independent, Feb 10. Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa has a reputation for toughness and decisiveness, and his latest actions only confirm it...

Arrested general "hell-bent" on betrayal: Sri Lanka Reuters, Feb 9. COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka's government on Tuesday said defeated presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka was "hell-bent" on betrayal and would be court-martialed on charges of conspiring against the president...

Outrage over Fonseka’s arrest Hindu, Feb 9. Outraged over the manner in which the military police have detained the former Sri Lankan Army chief and defeated opposition presidential candidate, General (retired) Sarath Fonseka, the opposition parties have urged the people to rise against the injustice...

Sri Lanka opposition to strike after leader held AP, Feb 9. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka's opposition called Tuesday for countrywide protests after its defeated presidential candidate was arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government while serving as army commander...

Sri Lanka crackdown goes beyond arrest of Sarath Fonseka CSM, Feb 9. The arrest of Gen. Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka’s recently defeated presidential candidate and former Army chief, has raised concerns that a wider repression of the country’s political opposition will follow...

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