Ten injured in fresh election clashes in Sri Lanka

Jan 13, 2010, 13:12 GMT

Colombo - Fresh election-related clashes erupted in north-central Sri Lanka Wednesday, leaving at least 10 people injured, police said.

Supporters of both the ruling party and the main opposition candidate clashed in Polonnaurwa, 180 kilometres north-east of Colombo, prompting police to open fire and use tear gas to disperse the crowds.

A female journalist working for the BBC's Sinhala language service who interviewed those injured in the clashes was pursued by government supporters and attacked with clubs, according to a complaint logged with the police. All her recording equipment and mobile phone was taken as well.

Supporters of both parties were injured in the shooting incidents and clashes.

The incidents came a day after a supporter of the main opposition candidate, former army commander General Sarath Fonseka, was killed in southern Sri Lanka.

The US embassy in Colombo said it was deeply concerned by the escalating violence surrounding the upcoming January 26 presidential elections.

'We urge the appropriate authorities to conduct a full investigation of this and other acts of violence and to protect those exercising their democratic right to support the candidate of their choice,' the embassy said in a statement.

The Sri Lankan government also condemned the shooting and said it 'will not tolerate any such acts of violence, in the midst of this democratic electoral process.'

Incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for early elections two years ahead of schedule in a bid to capitalize on the end of the country's 26-year civil war against Tamil rebels last May.

He faces a tight race against Fonseka, a war hero deemed responsible for the military victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.