Sri Lankan parties trade charges over threats on former army chief

Sri Lanka's main parties Monday traded charges over claimed death threats on General Sarath Fonseka, the former Army chief and the common opposition challenger to incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse in the presidential election.

Fonseka, the Commander of the Army when the government won the military battle with the Tamil Tiger rebels, has filed the Supreme Court seeking enhanced personal security deprived to him by the state.

"If he is under threat it must be coming from his own colleagues who were friends with the LTTE (Tamil rebels)", Dullas Alahapperuma, the Minister of Transport told reporters.

Lakshman Kiriella, a spokesman for the main opposition United National Party said General Fonseka's life was at risk since coming forward as the opposition candidate.

"There are former LTTErs now with the government", Kiriella said.

Fonseka is being backed by the opposition parties against Rajapakse who called a snap presidential election two years ahead of schedule perceivedly to capitalize on his popularity among the majority Sinhala community as a result of his successful military campaign.

However, Fonseka who was equally credited for ending the 30 year separatist campaign poses a serious challenge to Rajapakse.

Source: Xinhua