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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh president becomes PM | Bangladesh president becomes PM |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed has been sworn in as caretaker prime minister after the main political parties failed to agree a candidate. | Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed has been sworn in as caretaker prime minister after the main political parties failed to agree a candidate. |
| Installed in a televised ceremony at his office, he is charged with ensuring fairness in January's elections. | Installed in a televised ceremony at his office, he is charged with ensuring fairness in January's elections. |
| He has been trying to solve a political crisis that has led to the deaths of 18 people in two days of rioting. | He has been trying to solve a political crisis that has led to the deaths of 18 people in two days of rioting. |
| His decision to take the job without opposition backing is said to be the last constitutional option available. | His decision to take the job without opposition backing is said to be the last constitutional option available. |
| But there are fears that the move could trigger more protests. | But there are fears that the move could trigger more protests. |
| A former professor of soil science, Mr Ahmed is in his seventies and had a heart bypass operation five months ago. | |
| He will continue to perform his duties as president. | |
| Protests 'to continue' | |
| After the announcement that Mr Ahmed was taking on the role of prime minister, the BBC's Roland Buerk in Dhaka said the capital's near-deserted streets filled with screaming sirens as motorcades carrying dignitaries headed to his palace. | |
| Unrest dominates press | |
| Mr Ahmed was sworn in by Chief Justice JR Mudassir Hossain, in a ceremony attended by senior diplomats, civil servants and politicians. | |
| But the opposition Awami League failed to attend. | |
| It had already rejected Mr Ahmed's candidature on Saturday, on the basis that he was too close to outgoing Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's party. | |
| Senior members of the Awami League said the president had violated the constitution and protests that have paralysed the country would continue. | |
| Violent protests began in Bangladesh on Friday after the opposition objected to the nomination of ex-Chief Justice KM Hasan to head an interim administration. | Violent protests began in Bangladesh on Friday after the opposition objected to the nomination of ex-Chief Justice KM Hasan to head an interim administration. |
| Bitter rivalry | |
| The opposition Awami League accused him of being a stooge of the government, sent supporters on to the streets and threatened to paralyse the country. | The opposition Awami League accused him of being a stooge of the government, sent supporters on to the streets and threatened to paralyse the country. |
| On Saturday Mr Hasan pulled out just before he was due to be sworn in. | On Saturday Mr Hasan pulled out just before he was due to be sworn in. |
| The president urged parties to find a replacement by Sunday afternoon. | |
| Mr Ahmed then held separate talks with party leaders, but failed to reach agreement on a compromise candidate. | Mr Ahmed then held separate talks with party leaders, but failed to reach agreement on a compromise candidate. |
| Under Bangladesh's unique system, when an administration comes to the end of its term it hands over to an unelected interim government which has 90 days to organise elections. | Under Bangladesh's unique system, when an administration comes to the end of its term it hands over to an unelected interim government which has 90 days to organise elections. |
| The opposition has been demanding a say in choosing the "chief adviser", as the interim prime minister is known. | The opposition has been demanding a say in choosing the "chief adviser", as the interim prime minister is known. |
| Our correspondent says Bangladeshi politics is especially bitter because of the personal rivalry between Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League and Mrs Zia. | Our correspondent says Bangladeshi politics is especially bitter because of the personal rivalry between Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League and Mrs Zia. |
| They have led the country in alternate terms since 1991 but have not spoken for years. | They have led the country in alternate terms since 1991 but have not spoken for years. |
| Parliament has been boycotted regularly by whichever party is in opposition, and a culture of street demonstrations has developed. | Parliament has been boycotted regularly by whichever party is in opposition, and a culture of street demonstrations has developed. |