Ex-allies face off in Sri Lanka poll today

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse vowed yesterday to ensure the first post-war nationwide election goes off peacefully, as he prepared to face his former army chief after an acrimonious campaign.

Rajapakse urged the authorities to conduct a free and fair vote today, seeking to counter opposition claims that he would launch a coup to cling on to power if defeated at the ballot box.

Rajapakse, who ordered the military offensive that ended the 37-year conflict against Tamil rebels in May last year, faces a strong challenge from Sarath Fonseka, the army chief who led the troops in battle.