S Lanka's ex-army chief gets bail

A Sri Lankan court has granted bail for the country's ex-army chief and presidential candidate in one of the cases against him. The move is seen as a step toward a full presidential pardon.
Sri Lanka's high court set Sarath Fonseka's bail at $8,000 in a case where he is accused of harboring army deserters. His lawyer Saliya Peiris said Friday that Fonseka was also asked surrender his passport.
However, Fonseka will not be free immediately because he is serving a 30-month jail term after being convicted by military court martial of engaging in politics while still serving the army.
However, government spokesmen over the past days have been hinting that Fonseka will be given a full pardon.