SLMC rebel leader backs Ranil

The United National Front (UNF) government yesterday was assured by a rebel group of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) that it would continue to offer support to the government and back the peace process, despite fears that they would reduce the ruling party's majority in parliament.

The leader of the rebel group A.L.M. Athaullah, who is also chairman of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, said that they would continue to offer its support to the government and will provide all assistance to the current Norwegian backed peace process.

The leader of the rebel group was countering claims made by SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem who has been suspended from the party by the rebel group and a court order restraining Hakeem functioning as the leader of the party has been obtained.

Hakeem claimed that the main idea of the rebel group was to upset the balance of the UNF government which would have an adverse affect on the peace process.

Head of the government peace delegation, Prof. G.L.Peiris currently in Oslo, Norway, reacting to the crisis in the SLMC has expressed confidence that it would not have an impact on the peace process.

The comments were contrary to claims made by Hakeem in Colombo where he said that the ultimate goal of his opponents and others who were orchestrating the conspiracy was to weaken the decisive role the SLMC was playing in Parliament and bring about a shift in the balance of power.

Hakeem said he did not wish to name the party behind the conspiracy.

Though the SLMC fraction led by Athaullah who is also a non cabinet minister in the government has declared that they will continue to back the government to maintain its majority in Parliament, it has called on President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to award Hakeem's portfolios to the leader appointed by them.

They have appointed M. Zubairdeen as the SLMC's new leader replacing Hakeem. But Hakeem was due to challenge the decision.

Hakeem is the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Muslim Religious Affairs.

Meanwhile, Hakeem's group was making a strong effort to regain the support of some of the members who are backing Athaullah.

They had allegedly forcibly obtained an affidavit of one of the members, but it was later retracted.