Despite international condemnation and an opposition boycott, Madagascar is holding its first poll since a March 2009 coup. Wednesday’s constitutional referendum has been criticised as a bid to shore up current strongman Andry Rajoelina’s power.
Sri Lanka's ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka (photo), who unsuccessfully challenged Mahinda Rajapaksa for the presidency in 2009 and was later stripped of his title, is likely to be jailed for three years for fraud, pending approval by Rajapaksa.
Partial results give the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) of President Mahinda Rajapaksa (pictured) a comfortable lead in Sri Lanka’s first parliamentary elections since the end of a bitter conflict with the Tamil Tigers.
With more than a fifth of Thursday’s vote counted, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) claimed victory on Friday in the country’s parliamentary elections.
Voting ended Thursday in Sri Lanka's first parliamentary elections since the fall of the Tamil Tigers, with the ruling party of President Mahinda Rajapaksa widely expected to win. Observers reported low turnout and several cases of violence.
Protests have erupted in Sri Lanka over the arrest of Sarath Fonseka, a retired general and the main rival to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in January's presidential poll. Fonseka has been charged with conspiring to topple the government.
Sri Lanka's most decorated officer Sarath Fonseka, who lost January's presidential poll, faces a court martial on charges of sharing defence secrets with the opposition and conspiring to topple the government.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has sacked the national parliament, his spokesman said, paving the way for legislative elections two months ahead of schedule and hot on the heels of Rajapaksa's own re-election.
Sri Lanka's former army chief Sarath Fonseka (pictured), who lost to the incumbent in the recent presidential election, will face a court martial for "military offences", an official announced Tuesday.
Sri Lankan authorities have arrested ex-army commander General Sarath Fonseka (photo) for "military offences", according to the government's military spokesman. Fonseka has accused President Mahinda Rajapaksa of rigging the Jan. 26 presidential poll.
Mahinda Rajapaksa 
