Go, monks!

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Government and opposition lawmakers brawled on the floor of Sri Lanka's parliament Tuesday, in a fistfight that injured two Buddhist monks.

The scuffle broke out when members of the president's governing party tried to block Akmeemana Dayaratana a member of a Buddhist monk-led opposition party from taking his oath to become a member of Parliament, officials at the legislature said on condition of anonymity.

Dayaratana and another monk, Kollonnawe Sri Sumangala, were hurt in the fight and taken to a hospital.

Dayaratana was replacing another lawmaker monk who had broken ranks with his party to support the government and then resigned from parliament.

Government lawmakers reluctant to lose crucial support in the closely divided legislature is trying to prevent Dayaratana from stepping in. The government has contested the resignation in court, and its lawmakers argued that he shouldn't be replaced while his case is pending.

Despite the fracas, Dayaratana was sworn in.

More at link.

Hey, don't mess with the monks.