Sr Lanka Muslim Party leader quits

An influential Sri Lankan Muslim minister has resigned from the government of President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

The Ports Minister, M H M Ashraff, said there were irreconcilable differences with another member of the cabinet.

Two junior ministers of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, led by Mr Ashraff, have also resigned.

The Transport Minister, A H M Fowzie, is reported to have objected to the number of seats demanded by Mr Ashraff for his party in the October general election which is held under the national list system of proportional representation.

A BBC correspondent in Colombo says the resignations so close to the election are a blow for President Kumaratunga and her People's Alliance party. Our correspondent says the lack of unity means that the President may not be able to get the majority she needs in early September, when parliament is specially reconvened to vote on extending the state of emergency.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service