Sri Lanka army chief "resigns", may run for president

COLOMBO Nov 12 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's army chief, who engineered the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam after 25 years of war, has resigned, sources said on Thursday, amid speculation he will run for president.

General Sarath Fonseka is expected to challenge his Commander in Chief, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in an election possibly to be held in early 2010.

"General Fonseka had submitted his resignation to the president," one of the military and political sources told Reuters, asking not to named. (Reporting By Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Nick Macfie) (ranga.sirilal@thomsonreuters.com; +94-11-237-5903; Reuters Messaging; ranga.sirilal.reuters.com@reuters.net))