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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh pledge on power shift | Bangladesh pledge on power shift |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has promised to hand over power at midnight in line with the constitution. | |
| Mrs Zia gave the pledge in a speech to the nation on her last day in office hours before the transfer. | |
| Tension is high and police have been deployed in force to prevent trouble. Two people died in clashes on Friday as thousands took to the streets. | |
| The opposition opposes the man chosen to lead an interim government which will organise elections due in January. | |
| Peace call | Peace call |
| Mrs Zia appealed for calm across the country as fresh violence broke out in a number of towns and cities. | |
| Frequent clashes have taken place between the opposition and police | Frequent clashes have taken place between the opposition and police |
| She promised the poll would be free and fair, and said the constitution would "safeguard a peace-loving and responsible nation". | She promised the poll would be free and fair, and said the constitution would "safeguard a peace-loving and responsible nation". |
| "I urge everyone, including opposition parties, to maintain peace during the tenure of the caretaker government to ensure that a peaceful and credible election is held," she told the nation. | "I urge everyone, including opposition parties, to maintain peace during the tenure of the caretaker government to ensure that a peaceful and credible election is held," she told the nation. |
| It was a matter of "great regret" that talks with the opposition aimed at defusing the current crisis had not produced results, she added. | It was a matter of "great regret" that talks with the opposition aimed at defusing the current crisis had not produced results, she added. |
| There have already been sporadic outbreaks of violence, but the BBC's Roland Buerk in Dhaka says many people fear this is the calm before the storm. | There have already been sporadic outbreaks of violence, but the BBC's Roland Buerk in Dhaka says many people fear this is the calm before the storm. |
| He says the transfer of power threatens to spark a major confrontation between the government and opposition. | He says the transfer of power threatens to spark a major confrontation between the government and opposition. |
| On Friday, one person was killed in the eastern town of Brahmanbaria during clashes between supporters of the outgoing Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and opposition Awami League. | |
| Another died in violence near Dhaka between followers of the BNP and newly-formed Liberal Democratic Party, which contains high-profile defectors from the ruling party. | |
| More than 100 other people were hurt in clashes in the capital and elsewhere. | |
| Large numbers of police officers - many brought in from outlying districts - have been deployed in Dhaka ahead of the power transfer. | |
| Our correspondent says everyone is waiting for Saturday when the caretaker government is expected to be sworn in. | Our correspondent says everyone is waiting for Saturday when the caretaker government is expected to be sworn in. |
| 'Stooge' | 'Stooge' |
| The Awami League object strongly to the man tipped to head the supposedly-neutral interim administration - retired chief justice KM Hasan. | |
| Talks between the parties have so far failed | Talks between the parties have so far failed |
| They say he is a ruling party stooge and will rig the polls. | They say he is a ruling party stooge and will rig the polls. |
| They are threatening to paralyse the country if he takes office, with demonstrations and blockades of roads, railways and the country's main port. | They are threatening to paralyse the country if he takes office, with demonstrations and blockades of roads, railways and the country's main port. |
| The BNP about to leave power is calling for its supporters to be ready to take on opposition activists in the streets. | |
| KM Hasan himself is remaining shut away behind his heavily-guarded gates. | KM Hasan himself is remaining shut away behind his heavily-guarded gates. |
| It is not yet clear if he will even accept the daunting task of leading this bitterly-divided country, our correspondent says. | It is not yet clear if he will even accept the daunting task of leading this bitterly-divided country, our correspondent says. |
| The elections are not expected to take place until January, so months of disruption lie ahead, he adds. | The elections are not expected to take place until January, so months of disruption lie ahead, he adds. |
| The man killed on Friday died in clashes between the newly formed Liberal Democratic Party and the ruling BNP near Dhaka. | The man killed on Friday died in clashes between the newly formed Liberal Democratic Party and the ruling BNP near Dhaka. |
| Twelve former BNP members of parliament have joined the new party, deepening the current political crisis. | Twelve former BNP members of parliament have joined the new party, deepening the current political crisis. |