Disqualifications mar 100m semi-final

MELBOURNE, Mar 20 (Reuters) Jamaican Michael Frater and England's Mark Lewis-Francis were disqualified in a dramatic Commonwealth Games men's 100 metres semi-final today.

Frater, second in last year's world championships, was the first to be eliminated after the field had been put under warning following Australian Patrick Johnson's false start.

Frater was then disqualified when he broke before the gun on the second attempt.

Lewis-Francis, a relay gold medallist at the Athens Olympics, became the second runner disqualified from the race when he left the blocks early as the starter attempted to get the race under way a third time.

With the remaining six runners nervously lining for up a fourth time, world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica powered off to finish in 10.03, easily qualifying for the final.

Australia's Johnson squeezed into the final as the fourth qualifier from his heat after the disqualifications.

REUTERS PM BST1436