Gen. Fonseka is detained at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel

Apolitical Common Candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka has accused President Rajapakse and his government of intimidation and has said his staff had received threatening phone calls.

Gen. Fonseka had told CNN that Army soldiers and commandos tried to enter the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel shortly after he and opposition party members arrived there on Tuesday. His security forces told the soldiers they could not enter the building, so they stayed outside, Gen. Fonseka had said.
Gen. Fonseka had said he was not leaving the hotel as there were armed soldiers outside. A large number of armed soldiers lined inside the compound of the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel and surrounding area, checking cars driving up to the building.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported over its news bulletin today that Gen. Fonseka is detained in the hotel by the government fearing that he would carry out a coup. According to Al Jazeera commentator earlier government had claimed the hotel where Gen. Fonseka was staying was surrounded to prevent him marching to President’s House and take over if he won the election.