The beaten candidate in Sri Lanka’s presidential election, former army chief Sarath Fonseka, has been arrested by military police.

He was arrested in his office while talking with top members of his JVP party. Since losing the January the 26 poll by an 18-per cent margin to his former commander-in-chief Fonseka has accused the President of rigging the vote.

The government in turn has accused him of a coup and assassination plot. However the army says his arrest is linked to alleged offences from Fonseka’s time in the army, which he quit in November to contest the election. It made the claim in an official statement broadcast by the government information department, but no other details were given.

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