Senior politicians held in Dhaka

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Police in Bangladesh have arrested several more senior politicians as part of the interim government's crackdown on corruption.

Among those detained in the capital Dhaka were two former ministers from the last two governments.

They were held as they arrived at an anti-corruption panel to explain their finances, before a Sunday deadline.

A member of the interim cabinet said trials of some of the 30 or so people arrested would start by March.

Among those arrested on Sunday were former housing and public works minister Mirza Abbas and former aviation and tourism minister Mosharraf Hossain, officials said.

Mr Abbas served in the government of Khaleda Zia during her term in 2001-2006, while Mr Hossain was in the cabinet of Sheikh Hasina in 1996-2001.

They are on a list of 50 people suspected by the commission of corruption.

State of emergency

In January, the new head of Bangladesh's interim government Fakhruddin Ahmed vowed to crack down on the corruption and violence which he said was undermining the country's democracy.

He also promised to reform the voter list and the controversial election commission before holding elections "as soon as possible".

Elections had originally been scheduled for 22 January, but these were postponed by President Iajuddin Ahmed.

The move followed months of violent protests, amid claims by a political alliance that the vote was being rigged.

The violence left more than 40 people dead.

A state of emergency was also declared on 11 January.