Bangladesh Interim Gov't to Be Installed
DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Bangladesh's caretaker government will be installed by Sunday night, an opposition leader said after meeting with the president, hinting at an end to a political crisis that fueled deadly riots in the impoverished South Asian country.
At least 11 people were killed and hundreds were injured in two days of violence after the opposition refused to accept a retired chief justice invited to lead of the interim government.
Opposition activists run for cover after being chased by riot police, unseen, during a demonstration protesting outgoing Prime Minister Kaleda Zia's choice of retired Chief Justice K.M. Hasan to lead a caretaker government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006. Bangladesh's outgoing government delayed handing power to the caretaker administration Saturday, saying Hasan was ill, after at least six protesters died and hundreds were injured in two days of clashes with riot police. (AP Photo/Pavel Rahman)
Opposition activists run for cover after being chased by riot police, unseen, during a demonstration protesting outgoing Prime Minister Kaleda Zia's choice of retired Chief Justice K.M. Hasan to lead a caretaker government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006. Bangladesh's outgoing government delayed handing power to the caretaker administration Saturday, saying Hasan was ill, after at least six protesters died and hundreds were injured in two days of clashes with riot police.
The justice, K.M. Hasan, is a former member of the outgoing prime minister's party and critics said the interim administration, appointed to oversee elections due in January, was required to be nonpartisan.
Bangladesh's outgoing government, led by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, delayed handing power to a caretaker administration Saturday, saying Hasan was ill. The opposition, however, claimed Hasan refused the post because of the protests and alleged attempts by the government to rig the upcoming elections.
Hasan declined the position on Saturday, according to a presidential spokesman, setting the stage for an end to the political crisis.
"A new government will be installed by Sunday evening," Abdul Jalil, general secretary of the main opposition Awami League party, told reporters outside President Iajuddin Ahmed's official home in downtown Dhaka.
Jalil said the caretaker government would be headed by someone else; earlier he had said the opposition would accept another former chief justice, Mahmudul Amin Chowdhury, to head the caretaker authority.
Riot police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and warning shots to disperse thousands of stone-throwing protesters in the capital, Dhaka. Mobs smashed or torched several vehicles, burned tires and looted furniture from shops. Thousands of protesters blocked highways leading into Dhaka, cutting off the city of 10 million people from the rest of the country, TV footage showed.
Two people died in the rioting, while two members of Zia's party were shot dead elsewhere in the capital, the United News of Bangladesh agency reported. At least 300 people were injured, the agency said. One person died in southeastern Chittagong and another in northern Kurigram district, the agency said.
The violence on Friday killed five people and injured about 100.
Zia, whose five-year term in office expired at midnight Friday, accused the opposition of creating anarchy and urged her supporters to retaliate.
Zia's last days in office have been further clouded by the defection of more than two dozen politicians from her party over alleged corruption and incompetence in her administration.
Bangladesh, an impoverished Southest Asian country, has a history of political unrest. It spent more than 15 years under military rule after its independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Both Zia and opposition leader Sheikh Hasina led a pro-democracy movement in 1990, ousting the country's last military ruler, Gen. Hossain Mohammad Ershad.
The two politicians have been locked in political bickering since then.
At least 11 people were killed and hundreds were injured in two days of violence after the opposition refused to accept a retired chief justice invited to lead of the interim government.
Opposition activists run for cover after being chased by riot police, unseen, during a demonstration protesting outgoing Prime Minister Kaleda Zia's choice of retired Chief Justice K.M. Hasan to lead a caretaker government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006. Bangladesh's outgoing government delayed handing power to the caretaker administration Saturday, saying Hasan was ill, after at least six protesters died and hundreds were injured in two days of clashes with riot police. (AP Photo/Pavel Rahman)
Opposition activists run for cover after being chased by riot police, unseen, during a demonstration protesting outgoing Prime Minister Kaleda Zia's choice of retired Chief Justice K.M. Hasan to lead a caretaker government, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006. Bangladesh's outgoing government delayed handing power to the caretaker administration Saturday, saying Hasan was ill, after at least six protesters died and hundreds were injured in two days of clashes with riot police.
The justice, K.M. Hasan, is a former member of the outgoing prime minister's party and critics said the interim administration, appointed to oversee elections due in January, was required to be nonpartisan.
Bangladesh's outgoing government, led by Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, delayed handing power to a caretaker administration Saturday, saying Hasan was ill. The opposition, however, claimed Hasan refused the post because of the protests and alleged attempts by the government to rig the upcoming elections.
Hasan declined the position on Saturday, according to a presidential spokesman, setting the stage for an end to the political crisis.
"A new government will be installed by Sunday evening," Abdul Jalil, general secretary of the main opposition Awami League party, told reporters outside President Iajuddin Ahmed's official home in downtown Dhaka.
Jalil said the caretaker government would be headed by someone else; earlier he had said the opposition would accept another former chief justice, Mahmudul Amin Chowdhury, to head the caretaker authority.
Riot police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and warning shots to disperse thousands of stone-throwing protesters in the capital, Dhaka. Mobs smashed or torched several vehicles, burned tires and looted furniture from shops. Thousands of protesters blocked highways leading into Dhaka, cutting off the city of 10 million people from the rest of the country, TV footage showed.
Two people died in the rioting, while two members of Zia's party were shot dead elsewhere in the capital, the United News of Bangladesh agency reported. At least 300 people were injured, the agency said. One person died in southeastern Chittagong and another in northern Kurigram district, the agency said.
The violence on Friday killed five people and injured about 100.
Zia, whose five-year term in office expired at midnight Friday, accused the opposition of creating anarchy and urged her supporters to retaliate.
Zia's last days in office have been further clouded by the defection of more than two dozen politicians from her party over alleged corruption and incompetence in her administration.
Bangladesh, an impoverished Southest Asian country, has a history of political unrest. It spent more than 15 years under military rule after its independence from Pakistan in 1971.
Both Zia and opposition leader Sheikh Hasina led a pro-democracy movement in 1990, ousting the country's last military ruler, Gen. Hossain Mohammad Ershad.
The two politicians have been locked in political bickering since then.
posted by Marko at 10/28/2006 10:18:00 AM
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