Dhaka clash outside PM's office

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Police in Bangladesh have clashed with thousands of opposition supporters outside the prime minister's office.

They used batons against opposition supporters trying to break through barricades and enter the heavily guarded office complex in Dhaka.

Witnesses say dozens of people were injured in the violence.

But correspondents say the clashes are not as fierce as protests staged last week by the opposition, in which a senior opposition member was injured.

Saber Hossain Choudhury is now receiving treatment in Singapore for serious head injuries.

'Fascist government'

The opposition parties are demanding the resignation of election commissioners, who they accuse of favouring the government.

Chief Election Commissioner MA Aziz and the government have denied the allegations and Mr Aziz has refused to step down.

The opposition parties are also demanding electoral reforms, saying they are vital if the next election is to be free and fair.

"This fascist government is using police to attack peaceful demonstrators," opposition spokesman Tofail Ahmed told the Associated Press new agency.

"What we have been demanding is good for democracy."

Police imposed a ban on rallies and marches around Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's office in the capital after the opposition alliance announced plans for Tuesday's protest.

She was due to visit the south-eastern port city of Chittagong on Tuesday, her office said.

Officials from her Bangladesh Nationalist Party have condemned the demonstrators, who they accuse of deliberately trying to injure as many policemen as they can.

Under Bangladesh's constitution, Ms Zia is to hand over power to a caretaker administration when her five-year term expires on 28 October, with general elections due in January.