Rajapaksa loses no-confidence vote amid parliamentary chaos

In Sri Lanka, for the second time this week, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa loses a vote of no confidence even as his supporters try to disrupt proceedings.

Sri Lanka Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya had to be escorted by a police guard inside Parliament as he pushed for a second vote of no confidence this week.

Tempers flared as the appointed prime minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa, failed to get the backing of Parliament this week, with Rajapaksa supporters throwing furniture and even a copy of the Constitution at the speaker.

Rajapaksa supporters now want to dissolve the legislature and hold new elections to circumvent parliamentary opposition to his appointment.

Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith has the latest on the battle for power in Colombo.