Sri Lanka's top general quits

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The head of Sri Lanka's armed forces, fresh from a civil war-ending victory over Tamil Tiger rebels and a promotion, has quit, government officials say.

Voice of America reported Thursday there was no word on whether Gen. Sarath Fonseka would challenge Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Asian country's next election.

Political analysts had said Rajapaksa wants to call an election soon to take advantage of his popularity following this year's military victory that ended Sri Lanka's quarter-century civil war, VOA said.

Jean Perera, head of the independent National Peace Council in Colombo, said Fonseka appeared to resent his promotion because he wanted to remain the army commander.

"This was not granted to him as he was promoted to a position which seems to have left him with little power," Perera said. "He has become like a folk hero to many people, especially those belonging to the ethnic majority who constitute 75 percent of the population."

Sri Lanka has come under international scrutiny for its treatment of the minority Tamils during the final months of the war, its slow resettlement of those displaced by the fighting and possible war crimes, VOA said.