Sri Lanka opposition warns of violence vote-rigging
Sarath Fonseka
Ahead of final campaign rallies later on Saturday  opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka predicted that the ruling party  led by President Mahinda Rajapakse  would use violence to intimidate his supporters in Tuesday's vote.
 "They want to create violence and discourage people from voting. A lower turnout will help rigging " he told reporters  adding he expected fake voters and forged ballot papers to also be used.
 Fonseka said he and his allies would rely on the protection of the security forces  most of whom he said would vote for him except for a few senior figures who are "trying to please the government."
 "We can't counter violence with violence. We have to abide by the law " he said.
 A group of Fonseka supporters wearing green caps and party T-shirts walked noisily behind a procession of rickshaws on the streets outside the venue of his press conference.
 Fonseka and Rajapakse were to finish campaigning at rallies planned in and around Colombo later Saturday.
 President Rajapakse told reporters last week that the campaign failed to bring about an informed debate on issues and instead had degenerated into "mud slinging " a charge made by Fonseka too.
 Rajapakse handpicked Fonseka to be his army chief in 2005 and the two men were victorious allies on the battlefield last year against the Tamil Tiger rebels but are now sworn enemies at the ballot box.
Ahead of final campaign rallies later on Saturday  [TGT] predicted that the ruling party  led by President Mahinda Rajapakse  would use violence to intimidate his supporters in Tuesday's vote.
 "They want to create violence and discourage people from voting. A lower turnout will help rigging " he told reporters  adding he expected fake voters and forged ballot papers to also be used.
 [TGT] said [TGT] and [TGT] allies would rely on the protection of the security forces  most of whom he said would vote for him except for a few senior figures who are "trying to please the government."
 "We can't counter violence with violence. We have to abide by the law " he said.
 A group of [TGT] supporters wearing green caps and party T-shirts walked noisily behind a procession of rickshaws on the streets outside the venue of his press conference.
 [TGT] and Rajapakse were to finish campaigning at rallies planned in and around Colombo later Saturday.
 President Rajapakse told reporters last week that the campaign failed to bring about an informed debate on issues and instead had degenerated into "mud slinging " a charge made by [TGT] too.
 Rajapakse handpicked [TGT] to be his army chief in 2005 and the two men were victorious allies on the battlefield last year against the Tamil Tiger rebels but are now sworn enemies at the ballot box.