Sri Lanka's military barred foreign journalists Thursday from covering weekend elections in the east that are seen as a test of confidence in the government, which seized the region from Tamil Tiger rebels last year, the Associated Press (AP) has reported.
Maj Gen. Palitha Fernando said any foreigner not registered as an election observer cannot be in Eastern province during the polls. An Associated Press reporter and a photographer were stopped at a checkpoint and were asked to go back.
The AP had some quotes:
Fernando said the barring of journalists and other foreigners during the elections was for their own protection. "It could be dangerous. If something happens and a foreigner gets injured it will create problems,'' Fernando said.
Saturday's first-ever elections for the Eastern Provincial Council are seen as a referendum on the government's performance since it drove the rebels from their strongholds in the province last year.
