Fans rampage as power fails in Bangladesh

DHAKA, July 1 (Reuters) At least 20 people including policemen were injured when fans in the Bangladesh capital Dhaka rampaged after electricity failed during the Germany v Argentina World Cup quarter-final, police said today.

The power distribution office at the city's Nazimuddin Road area came under attack by hundreds of fans on Friday night as hosts Germany beat Argentina 4-2 on penalties in Berlin.

Angry fans clashed with police who tried to disperse them by using batons, witnesses said.

Fifteen people were also injured in northern Jamalpur and 10 others in northeastern Shayestaganj in violence over power failures. Fans attacked and ransacked power distrbution offices in both places, police said today.

In the southern district of Noakhali, Argentina fan Jahangir Alam (38) died of a heart attack while watching the match.

Alam, a businessman, collapsed after Germany scored in the penalty shootout and was rushed to hospital, where doctors found him dead, his family told police and reporters.

Bangladesh has no stake in the World Cup but the country of 140 million is sharply divided into Argentine and Brazilian camps.

Police said they feared more attacks as electricity frequently runs out in one or other part of the capital, as well as other cities.

Germany face Italy on Tuesday in the World Cup semi-finals while England meet Portugal and Brazil play France in the last of the quarter-finals on Saturday.

REUTERS PM KP1526