Former minister accuses Govt. of targetting Samaraweera supporters

The owner of the Standard Newspapers was arrested while being treated in Navaloka hospital.

Former minister Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi, who was in the hospital told BBC Sandeshaya that Alles was surrounded by nearly 15 police officers.

He accused authorities of being "inhumanely treating" Alles despite medical advise.

"Inhumane" treatment

Tiran Alles, the former head of Civil Aviation Authority, lost his post after ministers Sooriyaaarachi and Mangala Samaraweera were sacked by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

President has accused Mawbima newspaper of conspiring against his life.

	Mawbima suspended publications after bank accounts were frozen

Mawbima financial director, Dushantha Basnayake, was arrested on suspicion of illegal deals with the LTTE but later released on bail.

Sooriyaarachchi, who was earlier released on bail after being detained for weeks, told bbcsinhala.com that the arrest of Alles was part of a witchhunt against former Foreign Minister, Samaraweera.

Political witch hunt

"It is very clear that this questioning is a political whichhunt after Mangala Samaraweera refused to re-join the Cabinet of Ministers".

Alles, a close ally of Samaraweera, was working on republishing Mawbima and Sunday Standard newspapers at the time of arrest, he added.

It is very clear that this questioning is a political whichhunt after Mangala Samaraweera refused to re-join the Cabinet of Ministers Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi

The two newspapers were forced to suspend publication after the arrest of Basnayake and "President Rajapaksa's order to suspend its bank accounts," according to the former minister who was one of the main organisers of Rajapaksa's presidential election campaign.

Both Samaraweera and Sooriyaarachchi have accused Rajapaksa administration of offering money to LTTE before and after November 2005 elections.

Rejecting the allegations, the government has refused to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee to probe the allegations.

There was no immediate comment from the government over the arrest of Alles.