EU calls on Sri Lanka to probe reports of election irregularities

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union on Friday urged the Sri Lankan authorities to investigate reports of "irregularities" during the country's recent election and ensure the safety of his defeated opponent.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse won a bruising re-election battle on Tuesday, but the result was rejected by his main opponent, retired four-star general Sarath Fonseka, who is calling for an annulment.

Europe is ready to work with Rajapaksa, but is concerned about "a significant number of incidents," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.

The European Union "trusts that the irregularities reported by election observers and the election commission will be duly investigated and that the safety and security of all candidates and campaign workers will be ensured by the authorities," Ashton added.

Fonseka, who claims the voting was rigged, told reporters in Colombo on Thursday that the government was trying to intimidate him into silence by withdrawing his security and suggesting he was planning a coup.

"They are preparing the ground to take me also into custody and they will try to do that in the next few days," he said.

Ashton did hail the fact that the vote "took place in an overall peaceful environment" and said the large turnout, 72 percent, demonstrates the wish of the Sri Lankan people "to participate fully in the democratic process."

This was the first peace-time presidential election for Sri Lanka since the government declared victory in May in its decades-old conflict with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

The United Nations human rights chief has said both sides in the conflict could be guilty of war crimes.