Shots were fired from inside the Sri Lankan prime minister’s official residence Monday, as thousands of protesters breached the main gate and torched a parked truck, an AFP reporter said.
Police also fired tear gas to push back protesters retaliating against an attack on them earlier in the day by those loyal to the outgoing premier Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Police sources confirmed that shots were fired in the air to prevent the mob breaching the inner security ring of the residence where Rajapaksa, who resigned as premier earlier in the day, was still holed up with several loyalists.
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Ukraine war: On Kyiv’s request, UNHRC to convene special session on April 12
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Sri Lanka PM resigns, Rajapaksa family home burnt down amid clashes: 10 points
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday resigned from his position even as the country saw its worst political violence – killing at least five people including an MP and wounding almost 200 – ever since the anti-government protest against the economic crisis began weeks ago. Here are the latest updates on Sri Lankan political crisis: 1. As many as 181 people have been hospitalised, a Colombo National Hospital spokesman told news agency AFP.
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Watch: Red paint thrown at Russian envoy to Poland by anti-war protesters
Russia’s ambassador to Poland, Sergey Andreev’s face was splattered with red paint thrown at Ambassador Sergey Andreev on Monday by protesters opposing the Ukraine war, on his way to paying respects at a Warsaw cemetery to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the attack, saying that “we won’t be scared” while the “people of Europe should be scared to see their reflection in a mirror”.
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Sri Lankan lawmakers’ houses, vehicles set on fire as protests intensify: Report
Houses of several politicians of Sri Lanka’s ruling party were set on fire by anti-government protestors, claiming they were behind the mob attack on Galle Force demonstrators, local media reported on Monday. According to Sri Lankan agency NewsWire, protestors set ablaze the residence of ruling MP Sanath Nishantha. Another video showed houses and vehicles of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna politicians set on fire by angry protestors.