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Defeated joint opposition candidate Gen Sarath Fonseka rejected the Sri Lankan government's allegations on Thursday that he had attempted to assassinate President Mahinda Rajapakasa, terming it as "trumped up charges" to arrest him.
His reaction came hours after the defence ministry alleged that the president and his family were to be assassinated along Galle Road in Colombo or at the Lake House Junction in the commerce hub of Fort.
"These are trumped up charges to arrest me for an attempted coup," the former army chief told reporters.
He said, "My passport has been blacklisted and I cannot leave the country now."
The defence ministry claimed nine army deserters, who were arrested from outside a hotel in the capital on Wednesday, were part of the plot and investigations into this are now underway.