Should a general election be announced, the The UNP rebel group which joined the government would decide on the available options – Whether to contest as a separate group of the UNP, as SLFP candidates or under the UPFA banner, UNP Democratic Wing member and Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge said yesterday.

"We have confidence in the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as he is the only leader who has been able to give the right leadership to the security forces to go forward with confidence to liberate the Tamil people from the clutches of the LTTE terrorists. We will continue to support and strengthen his hand," Lokuge told The Island.

He said no election has been announced and there was no need for them to take hurried decisions.

He said the UNP Democratic Group was in constant contact with its members and party activists and will decide on their course for the good of the country and the people.