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Sri Lankan troops deployed to quell pre-election violence
Sri Lanka has deployed thousands of troops Monday to quell violence ahead of parliamentary elections as monitors said the death toll in vote-related attacks reached 41.
Electoral officials have appealed for calm as his officials prepared to leave for the provinces under armed escort to man nearly 10-thousand polling booths at which 12-million people are eligible to vote on Wednesday.
Electoral officials have also urged political leaders to ensure a free and fair election.
They said they would not allow fire arms and cellular phones to be taken within half a mile of polling stations or counting centres to prevent intimidation of voters and other malpractices.
But the minority Sri Lanka Muslim Congress said it feared a "bloodbath" in the areas of central Sri Lanka where minority communities were concentrated, and accused the ruling party of unleashing "unprecedented terror."
The defence ministry said army units had been made available to local police stations to help officers who will be deployed on election day.
4/12/01 7:26:42 | ABC Radio Australia News
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