Sri Lanka leader lifts emergency

The prime minister will not find a legal challenge easy

Sri Lanka's president has withdrawn emergency rule, as the prime minister returned from a US trip to scenes of rapturous welcome.

Thousands of supporters lined the streets to greet Ranil Wickramasinghe, who vowed to challenge the president.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga had suspended parliament in his absence and sacked key ministers. Officials said emergency rule would be replaced by less draconian security regulations.

Although none of the actions had been carried out, a state of emergency gives broad powers to the military, bans public gatherings, gives the president lawmaking powers and allows media censorship.

HAVE YOUR SAY This is a deliberate move by the president to derail the peace process at a time Bala Ratnam, US Send us your comments Press reaction

Mrs Kumaratunga, who is due to address the nation at 1430 GMT on Friday, has accused the government of making too many concessions to Tamil Tiger rebels.

But Mr Wickramasinghe, arriving at Colombo airport, where he was mobbed by jubilant crowds, said the president's actions had endangered the peace process.

"We have to ensure that parliament is resummoned immediately for the peace process to continue," the prime minister said.

Power struggle

Mr Wickramasinghe said his priority was to get the peace process back on track "with discussions with everyone in Sri Lanka".

He said President George W Bush had expressed his support for the government.

Many fear a confrontation between the prime minister and the president will mean a protracted power struggle which could ultimately jeopardise the peace process with Tamil Tiger rebels, who are observing a ceasefire.

The BBC's Frances Harrison in Colombo says that with parliament suspended for two weeks, there are fears that the political confrontation may spill over into violence on the streets.

It is not clear what options are available to Mr Wickramasinghe, who cannot govern without key ministries and will find it difficult to mount a legal challenge to the president.

Profile: Ranil Wickramasinghe

If, however, Mrs Kumaratunga does come out on top of this power struggle, she may face some resistance from an international community which has expressed concerns for the future of Sri Lanka's peace process, our correspondent adds.

The Tamil Tigers accused her of "scuttling the peace process", a pro-rebel website reported.

But they also said they would be patient during the political upheaval.

"We have to observe the political turmoil in Colombo quite soberly... We can remain patient as long as we are strong," military leader Colonel V Karuna was quoted as saying by the Tamilnet site.

Mrs Kumaratunga has moved to reassure the public over the events of the last few days.

"The president assures the people of Sri Lanka that there is no cause for alarm or panic," a statement from the president's office said on Thursday.

In the north of the island, where most of the Tamil minority ethnic group lives, many people were reported to be stocking up on fuel and food on Thursday, amid fears of renewed hostilities between the Tigers and government forces.