Across Asia: Sri Lanka

Police battle protesters

Police fired tear gas and water cannon yesterday to stop unemployed graduate protesters entering a high security area near President Mahinda Rajapaksa's official residence. Rajapaksa has been riding a wave of popularity since the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels in May ended a 25-year civil year, but is now coming under pressure from protests and strikes by trade and student unions ahead of elections in early 2010.

Unemployed graduates, who have been staging rolling protests for the past 29 days demanding reasonable jobs, said they were attacked by the police when they tried to go to the president's house to meet him and discuss their problems.