Ousted foreign minister said on Thursday he was dismissed by the
government mainly because he had stressed the need to curb
human rights abuses including abductions and killings .

	Ousted ministers meet media

"Tamil people in Colombo are living in fear of being abducted". He said.

"Not only Mangala Samaraweera, but also Mahinda Rajapakse can't be a part of a government that abuses human rights". said the former minister.

human rights abuse

"As the foreign minister, I pointed out those human rights violations very often and that's a reason for them to oppose me", said Mangala Samaraweera, referring to President Mahinda Rajapakse's decision to sack him from the Cabinet last Friday.

"I repeatedly said that our silence over human rights issues will only strengthen the terrorists internationally while we are conducting a successful military campaign against them", Samaraweera said referring to the fight against Tamil Tiger rebels.

"The fighting is a farce. The government says they are advancing in the East. But, if they really mean war, they must attack Mulathivu and Kilinochchi", said the other ousted minister Sripathi Suriyarachchi.

different language

"we may have the biggest cabinet in the world, but the state affairs are decided by the Rajapakse brothers. Most of government expenditure is under the president. This means the real power on this money is controled by Basil Rajapakse". Mangala Samaraweera told the large gathering of journalists.

"Sri Lankan forces are just advancing in the desserts. LTTE is withdrawing from all these places. We know how this is done!" the ex minister said.

When asked about these comments, government defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the minister "Never said anything like that last week. He was talking in a very different language about the military gains. I do not have to say any more".