December 28, 2007	Friday	Zilhaj 17, 1428

COLOMBO, Dec 27: Commandos rescued a Sri Lankan minister held in an office by state-run TV staff on Thursday who were angered by his bodyguards’ assault on a journalist in a drama broadcast live nationwide.

An anti-hijacking and hostage rescue squad was deployed at the Rupavahini state television network to free Labour Minister Mervin Silva, who had allegedly stormed the studios with bodyguards and attacked journalists, officials said.

Unedited footage broadcast live over the state television channel showed army officers and police escorting Silva out of the usually tightly guarded building located within a high security zone of Colombo.

Police anti-riot squads were moved to the station while heavily armed commandos dressed in body armour and wearing hard hats moved in to the premises while unarmed officers rescued the minister amid jeering by rebellious staff.

“The minister is being held in an office by the staff,” the television said earlier in a statement broadcast while interrupting regular programming.

The minister, bleeding from his forehead, was escorted out after being held for more than two-and-a-half hours. The station said the high drama was a “tremendous victory” for media in the country.

Minister Silva was forced to apologise to the staff in the presence of an army of cameramen and press photographers while one bodyguard, who was erroneously identified by an anchor as his son, made similar pleas for mercy.—AFP