13/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - According to the European Deputy John Cushnahan (EPP-DE, Irish) Head of the EU Election Observation Mission for the Sri Lankan elections held on 5 December, the results "seem to reflect the political wishes of the people who clearly wanted change" Nevertheless Cushnahan denounced the violence which had marked the elections (43 people assassinated) stating that "the principal source of this violence had been the country's largest parties" and that those who had been elected as a result of such acts of violence "should not be rewarded with positions within the government or in their party". He also stated that a great number of people had been prevented from reaching the ballot boxes by the police or by armed gangs.