JVP says Gen Fonseka agreed to be the common candidate

"General Fonseka has had official discussions with the UNP, and other opposition parties, and the oppostion groups including the JVP and the UNP had discussions about the strategies for elections" General Secretary of the UNP, Tissa Attanayake told the BBC Sinhala Service.

"The details of the decision of the United National Front (UNF) will be announced on Wednesday", said Tissa Attanayake.

'I have a right'

Addressing the media on Tuesday, General Sarath Fonseka said that he has a right to enter politics like any other retired government servent.

	UNP says the party has no objections to the JVP candidate

"In military, you can't talk but have to take action! In politics, you can talk even without action," the general said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has revealed plans to hold elections early.

However no date has been set.

On Monday, the authorities announced the vote would be held soon and the governing Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has now started campaigning for the election.

Around the country blue posters are being plastered on walls, showing the white-clad President Rajapaksa with his arms aloft, and the slogan "heroism serving the country, leadership to develop the country".

Growing row

President Rajapaksa says he will hold an early election as his government has completed within four years the bulk of its six-year workload.

In military, you can't talk but have to take action! In politics, you can talk even without action Gen Fonseka

Gen Fonseka, former chief of defence staff, resigned from his post earlier this month following differences with the government over who should take credit for defeating the rebels.

A spokesman for the main opposition coalition told the BBC that it was still considering whether to endorse the general's candidacy.

The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says the row between the disgruntled general and the government is getting worse.

Supreme Court petition

Gen Fonseka has filed a Supreme Court petition requesting vastly increased security and also seeking leave to stay on in his official residence.

Genral asks for 600 strong military detachment to protect him along with six vehicles including two bullett proof cars.

He says he has been reduced to house-hunting and accuses the defence ministry of putting pressure on landlords not to rent to him.

But the military spokesman has countered by saying the government has acceded to all the general's requests.

Our correspondent says the spokesman also accused the general of keeping large numbers of staff and vehicles to which he was not entitled.

he said the details of his political ambitions would be announced within the next few days.