Sri Lanka sacks military officers

Sri Lanka's president yesterday sacked a dozen senior military officers whom the defence ministry said were a "direct threat to national security" after last week's presidential elections.

President Mahinda Rajapakse had accused the defeated opposition of planning to assassinate him after he beat former army general Sarath Fonseka in the bitterly fought January 26 poll.

Security forces kept Fonseka under siege while election results were announced on Wednesday, and 15 retired officers working at Fonseka's offices were later arrested by police.

A military source who declined to be named said 12 top officers were sacked to thwart any attempted coup by Fonseka's supporters inside the military.

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