Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's president, has dissolved parliament amid mounting political tensions over the arrest of General Sarath Fonseka, his main rival in last month's presidential elections.
The dissolution came into effect on Wednesday, according to Lucien Rajakarunanayake, the president's spokesman.
It clears the way for legislative elections two months ahead of schedule.
Officials say new polls are expected around April 8, but a formal announcement of the new election date is due later in the month.
Hours earlier, the Sri Lankan defence ministry had declared that Fonseka, who as a senior general helped defeat the Tamil Tiger rebels last May, would be court-martialled for allegedly planning to overthrow the government while serving as the head of the army.
Source : http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/02/20102104289771393.html
The dissolution came into effect on Wednesday, according to Lucien Rajakarunanayake, the president's spokesman.
It clears the way for legislative elections two months ahead of schedule.
Officials say new polls are expected around April 8, but a formal announcement of the new election date is due later in the month.
Hours earlier, the Sri Lankan defence ministry had declared that Fonseka, who as a senior general helped defeat the Tamil Tiger rebels last May, would be court-martialled for allegedly planning to overthrow the government while serving as the head of the army.
Source : http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/02/20102104289771393.html
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