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Hakeem says SLMC not joining Alliance
By Frances Bulathsinghala
Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Rauff Hakeem yesterday re-affirmed that there would not be a cross over by his party to the United People's Freedom Alliance and stated that the SLMC would not support the UPFA's aims at changing the present Constitution .

Foretelling 'disaster' within the UPFA, Mr. Hakeem alleged that the UPFA forming a government with 106 seats - below the level of a simple majority - was a 'fraud'. "They have not got the numbers for a simple majority. This is clearly outside the legal framework", he said adding that the SLMC would not be 'induced' to join the UPFA 'under any circumstances'.

"The President and her party cannot continue without our participation", Mr. Hakeem said referring to the combined strength of the 40 members of the three minority parties, the SLMC, the TNA and the CWC which is not supporting the Alliance.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday Mr. Hakeem met the pro-LTTE 22 member Tamil National Alliance to discuss the Muslim aspect of the proposed North-East administration, which is to be a counter-proposal to the LTTE interim administration proposal.

The TNA members are expected to leave for the LTTE headquarters early this week to discuss their meeting with the Muslim Congress.

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