Fonseka in Sri Lankan military custody

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Sri Lankan military officials said former Army Chief and losing presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka has been arrested for "military offenses."

A brief announcement on the military's Web site said Fonseka "was taken into military custody (Monday) in connection with certain fraudulent acts and other military offenses committed by him."

The two-paragraph report gave no details, saying only, "Military investigations are in progress and a detailed statement will be issued later."

The Colombo Page quoted Lakshman Hulugalle, director general of the media center for National Security, as saying Fonseka, who was trounced by incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Jan. 28 election, would face charges in a military court for conspiracy against the government.

Both Fonseka and Rajapaksa are regarded as heroes in the island nation after the military defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009, ending a 26-year-old civil war for a separate homeland for the minority Tamils. Fonseka and Rajapaksa fell out after the victory and became rivals in the presidential elections.

Fonseka refused to concede defeat, accusing the Rajapaksa government of vote rigging, and had been planning to contest parliamentary elections in April, Colombo Page reported. The report said the military had denied Fonseka would be taken before a military court and it was not clear what led to the change of mind.

Fonseka has denied allegations he was plotting to assassinate the president and topple the government through a coup. There have been reports of numerous arrests since the election and about a dozen military officers were sent into forced retirement after being accused of involvement in politics.