Activists clash as Rajapakse prepares snap election

Police in Colombo fired teargas on Wednesday as President Mahinda Rajapakse's supporters attacked opposition activists protesting at the arrest of his rival, General Sarath Fonseka. Earlier the President dismissed parliament to prepare for an early general election.

A supporter of President Rajapakse with a riot police officer at the Colombo clashes Reuters

On Tuesday night Rajapakse dissolved the national assembly, two months earlier than the constitution requires, to pave the way for an early election. Officials say that it will be held on 8 April.

On Wednesday the rivals's supporters clashed outside the Supreme Court after ruling party supporters throw stones at the opposition protesters, trying to drive them off the street.

Several bystanders were injured and rushed to hospital.

As order was restored, Fonseka's wife, Anoma, arrived to file a petition for her husband's release. Supreme Court officials said a hearing had been fixed for Friday.

Opposition parties say they believe Fonseka, who is being held at the naval headquarters in Colombo, is in danger.

"We have good reason to believe that the extra-judicial arrest of General Fonseka may be followed up with assassination while in custody," they said in a joint statement.

France says it is "extremely worried" about Fonseka's arrest on Monday, which followed his defeat in last month's presidential election. Former peace facitlitator Norway declared that it risks impeding progress towards "lasting political stability."

The UN and the US have also expressed concern.