Sri Lankan former military chief hospitalised

Sri Lanka's former military chief Sarath Fonseka, who is serving a 30-month jail sentence, was admitted to hospital after suffering breathing problems, his party said today.

The former general was unwell due to poor conditions in his cell, Democratic National Alliance lawmaker Tiran Alles said.

Fonseka, 59, who fell out with the Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapakse, after the army's defeat of the Tamil Tigers rebels last year, unsuccessfully tried to unseat the president in a January election.

Fonseka was arrested two weeks after his defeat. However, he won a seat in parliamentary elections in April, allowing him to attend the legislature.

He has rejected a government offer to seek clemency and is serving a jail term in Colombo after being convicted of military procurement offences.

The ex-army chief has said the government is seeking revenge for his decision to stand against the president.

* AFP