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Bangladesh gripped by blockades Violent clashes at Dhaka protest
(about 9 hours later)
Thousands of troops have deployed across the Bangladeshi capital as a three-day nationwide blockade to try to force electoral reforms gets under way. Police in the Bangladeshi capital have fired rubber bullets at stone-throwing protesters taking part in a nationwide blockade to force electoral reform.
The blockade of roads, railways and ports is being organised by an alliance of political parties who want elections scheduled for this month postponed. Several people were injured in clashes in Dhaka, local media reported.
The three-day blockade of roads, ports and railways is being organised by an alliance of political parties who want elections set for this month postponed.
The Awami League and its allies say they will boycott the 22 January poll, alleging it will not be free and fair.The Awami League and its allies say they will boycott the 22 January poll, alleging it will not be free and fair.
But Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed says the elections will go ahead. Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed says the elections will go ahead as planned.
The BBC's John Sudworth in the capital, Dhaka, says this is a constitutional crisis being played out on the streets. The BBC's John Sudworth in Dhaka says this is a constitutional crisis being played out on the streets.
He says the army is patrolling Dhaka, a clear sign of the threat of a repeat of the scenes of violence that have marred the previous protests over the past few months. Standstill
Our correspondent says police have already baton charged some protesters in the capital, where the situation is very tense. Thousands of security forces were deployed in Dhaka for the first day of the blockade.
Previous agitation over the issue has led to more than 30 deaths countrywide. We will shut down the country for weeks if the government goes ahead with holding the elections Abdul Jalil spokesman href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6238749.stm" class="">In pictures: The protests
'Arrests' Police said protesters pelted them with rocks and stones. "Our officers shot tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the mob," a police sub-inspector, Kankan, told the French news agency AFP.
The blockade has brought Dhaka to a standstill, with schools shut and vehicles absent from the streets.
Previous agitation over the issue has led to more than 30 deaths countrywide and the opposition parties say the protests will continue until their demands are met.
Opposition spokesman Abdul Jalil said: "We will not accept farcical elections. We will shut down the country for weeks if the government goes ahead with holding the elections."Opposition spokesman Abdul Jalil said: "We will not accept farcical elections. We will shut down the country for weeks if the government goes ahead with holding the elections."
But President Ahmed, head of the caretaker government, said the constitution demanded the polls be held within 90 days, and they would proceed.But President Ahmed, head of the caretaker government, said the constitution demanded the polls be held within 90 days, and they would proceed.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government handed power to the interim administration at the end of October.The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led government handed power to the interim administration at the end of October.
The Awami League said more than 1,000 activists were detained ahead of the protests.The Awami League said more than 1,000 activists were detained ahead of the protests.
Its main demand is that the government use an updated version of the 2000 voter register, and not one created over the past few years.Its main demand is that the government use an updated version of the 2000 voter register, and not one created over the past few years.
The political bloc led by the BNP accuses the Awami League of "sensing defeat" and being determined to sabotage the elections.The political bloc led by the BNP accuses the Awami League of "sensing defeat" and being determined to sabotage the elections.