The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) yesterday effectively stopped almost half a million minority Tamil voters from going to elect a new Sri Lanka President, a move that could influence the final verdict in the crucial election.
The rebels said they would "not interfere with the decision of the Tamil voters". However they attacked rival groups supporting Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and blocked citizens coming to vote for opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.
In northern Jaffna, the voter turn-out was less than 1 per cent of registered voters, but in eastern Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts, 40 per cent of Tamils voted. The turnout was well below average at such polls.
Sixty-five thousand policemen were on duty throughout the country.
