Sri Lanka general to mount poll bid

Legislator Dissanayake said the former army chief was a consensus opposition candidate [AFP] Sri Lanka's former military chief will challenge his former boss Mahinda Rajapakse, the incumbent president, in the country's presidential election, an opposition party has said. The Peoples' Liberation Front, or JVP, said on Tuesday it had come to an agreement with General Sarath Fonseka, the former head of the military, and would back him in election to be held likely in January. "We came to an agreement last night [Monday] that he will be the common opposition candidate," Anurakumara Dissanayake, a JVP legislator, said. "He has accepted to be the 'apolitical' common candidate who will work towards the abolition of the executive presidency within six months of coming to power," he said. The JVP previously backed Rajapakse, but it, as well as the main opposition United National Party, have since said they will support any move to oust the president. for more..... Visit :- http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/11/2009112492418479179.html