India calls for swift resumption of democracy in B'desh

UNITED STATES: India called for the swift resumption of democracy in neighbouring Bangladesh but endorsed reforms being pushed through by the military-backed government.

"We would like to see the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh as soon as possible," Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told reporters after nuclear talks with top US officials.

"We want a peaceful, stable, moderate Bangladesh. That's in our interest," he said, noting that the country figured in a discussion on regional issues with Nicholas Burns, the US under secretary of state for political affairs.

But Menon added: "The present caretaker government is doing things that need to be done." He cited work to clean up Bangladesh's fraud-riddled electoral roll.

"We will, as a good neighbour, work with Bangladesh to try to address the problems that we have," the Indian official said, detailing development, extremism and water resources.

Authorities have been trying to force both Zia and Sheikh Hasina into exile as part of a crackdown on political corruption, blaming both for years of misrule.

But on Wednesday the government lifted a ban on Hasina's return from holiday and insisted there was no longer any pressure on Zia - who had reportedly agreed to go into exile in Saudi Arabia - to leave the country.

"It's up to them, where they stay, what they do," the Indian foreign secretary said of the two women leaders.

Washington, Wednesday, AFP