Ferial Ashraff's convoy stoned

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 August 2001, 17:06 GMT]
A convoy in which the National Unity Alliance (NUA) leader and Sri Lankan cabinet minister Ms. Ferial Ashraff was travelling, was stoned at Oddamavadi in Batticaloa district Tuesday afternoon around 1 p.m., the police said. The Minister was travelling in a convoy of ten cars from Kattankudy to Colombo after holding special delegates' conference in the eastern province last week.

Mr.Rauff Hakeem, who recently left the NUA to form his own faction of the SLMC, was also in the east last week, holding a conference of special delegates of his faction.

SLMC Parliamentarian Mr.U.L.M.Mohideen and former Deputy Minister M.L.A.M.Hisbullah were also travelling in Ms.Ashraff's convoy.

The Muslim politicians escaped unhurt in the incident. However, one of the vehicles in which their body guards were travelling was damaged, police said.

The police and army rushed to the scene and averted escalation of clashes between Hakeem's supporters and the bodyguards, sources said. According to residents, the police opened fire in the air to bring the situation under control.