Riot police deployed ahead of opposition strike in Bangladesh

Bangladesh: Bangladesh authorities ordered riot police and paramilitary troops onto the streets Tuesday to prevent violence across the country during a 36-hour general strike called by the opposition.

The 14-party opposition alliance, led by the Awami League party, called the strike to protest a police crackdown on their supporters Sunday when street demonstrations demanding electoral reforms turned violent.

At least 200 people, including several policemen, were wounded in clashes on Dhaka's outskirts, witnesses and news reports said.

The strike - from dawn Tuesday until sundown Wednesday - was expected to disrupt road transport and keep businesses and schools shut for fear of violence.

In the capital, Dhaka, more than 10,000 law enforcers were deployed to guard major thoroughfares and public buildings in the city of 10 million people, a police statement said.

The opposition alliance accuses Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's government of influencing the country's election commission to guarantee victory in the next election, due in January 2007. They want the prime minister and chief election commissioner to resign.

Zia's government denies all the allegations, and has vowed to stay in power until its five-year term expires in October, paving the way for a nonpartisan caretaker administration to supervise the next election.

On Sunday, riot police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at thousands of stone-hurling opposition protesters, who barricaded highways and set fire to vehicles to block main entry points to Dhaka.

The opposition has held a series of strikes and street protests in recent months, trying to force Zia's resignation and call for an early election, as well as election commission reforms. Dhaka, Tuesday, AP