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Third day of Bangladesh protests Police bar Bangladesh protesters
(about 6 hours later)
Police in the Bangladeshi capital have clashed with demonstrators for the third consecutive day. Police in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka have prevented thousands of protestors from surrounding the presidential palace in the centre of the city.
Supporters of the Awami League and its allies threw home made bombs and stones at police, leaving dozens injured. Riot police used teargas for a third consecutive day to disperse stone throwing protestors, and have now brought the streets under control.
The clashes started when demonstrators, defying a blanket ban on marches and rallies, tried to storm barricades in front of the presidential palace. Supporters of the Awami League and its allies threw home made bombs and missiles leaving dozens of police hurt.
The party and its allies want elections set for this month postponed, saying they will not be free and fair. The party and its allies want elections set for this month postponed.
Running battles Battlefield
"It's a fierce battle going on for couple of hours now, with activists exploding bombs and throwing stones at police firing rubber bullets and teargas," Reuters cameraman Rafiqur Rahman said. They argue that the vote will not be free and fair.
The BBC's John Sudworth says that police fired tear gas shells and fought running battles with protesters. Correspondents say that Dhaka was turned into a battlefield on Tuesday as protesters hurled bombs and rocks at police who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
Bangladesh on the brinkBangladesh on the brink
But our correspondent says that the city is now becoming quieter, with many demonstrators dispersing peacefully. Thousands of demonstrators, chanting "no elections on 22 January", clashed with police as they attempted to march to the presidential palace in Bangabhaban.
Correspondents say that earlier the fighting spread from the Fakirapool area of Dhaka to nearby Bangabandhu Avenue, where police tried to storm the headquarters of the Awami League but were repelled by bomb-throwing party activists. In one clash at least 10 small bombs were thrown at riot police who responded with tear gas volleys, according to police and an AFP correspondent at the scene.
"Smoke from the home-made bombs and teargas shells covered the area, with people running for cover," one witness told Reuters. "The activists threw small bombs, rocks and stones at our officers and we had no choice but to retaliate," Assistant Police Commissioner Rezaul Islam said.
He said that at least 60 people have been injured and dozens detained by police. Police said a total of 25 small bombs were thrown at officers during the two clashes. They say that at least eight officers were injured, three of them seriously.
Around 130 people have been injured since Sunday in fighting between police and supporters of the Awami league and its allies. It was the third day of clashes
'Resist the elections'
Tuesday is the third day of a transport blockade imposed by the protesters which has cut off most major towns and cities including Dhaka.Tuesday is the third day of a transport blockade imposed by the protesters which has cut off most major towns and cities including Dhaka.
Opposition supporters say planned elections will not be fair Senior opposition leader Tofael Ahmed said at least 200 Awami League activists were hurt, although it was not known how many needed hospital treatment.
Earlier, thousands of police and troops patrolled the streets of the capital and erected barbed wire barricades, blocking all roads leading to the presidential palace.
Police say there were dozens of protests held across the city.
Plan of action
The protests have hit other parts of the country: in the southern port city of Chittagong, officials say that a record 21,000 containers are waiting to be processed due to the suspension of operations, and at least 66 cargo vessels were stranded, unable to unload or take on new cargo.
The BBC's John Sudworth says that Dhaka is now becoming quieter, with many demonstrators dispersing peacefully.
Our correspondent say that while a few hundred protesters fought the police with stones, most were quickly moved away.
The army are patrolling the streets
President Iajuddin Ahmed says it is his constitutional duty to make sure the elections go ahead as planned on 22 January.President Iajuddin Ahmed says it is his constitutional duty to make sure the elections go ahead as planned on 22 January.
He has headed a caretaker government since the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) handed over interim power at the end of October. He has headed a caretaker government since the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) handed over interim power at the end of October.
But the Awami league and its allies say that the interim government led by the president has failed to ensure a free and fair vote. But the Awami league and its allies say that the caretaker government led by the president has failed to ensure a free and fair vote.
The party's General Secretary, Abdul Jalil, said they would defy all bans to carry out their protests. He called on alliance leaders and workers to "resist the elections" and urged voters to boycott the vote. It has announced that it is holding a meeting on Wednesday to announce a plan of action for the coming days, and says it will disrupt the polls if they are allowed to go ahead.
But Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, secretary-general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, urged his supporters to resist any attempt to disrupt the vote.
"Anyone has the right to boycott an election but no one has a right to resist the polls," he said.