9 Feb 2010

Presidential candidate under arrest

7:38 am on 9 February 2010

The army in Sri Lanka says it has arrested its former commander and unsuccessful presidential candidate, General Sarath Fonseka, for what it says are military offences.

General Fonseka lost last month's election to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, but claims the vote was rigged.

The government has in turn accused him of a coup and assassination plot.