B'desh declares state of emergency, imposes curfew

DHAKA, Jan 11 (Reuters) Bangladesh has declared a state of emergency and imposed a daily night-time curfew, state television said on today after weeks of violence in the run-up to elections boycotted by major parties.

''The president has declared a state of emergency and a curfew has been clamped daily from 2300hrs to 0500hrs.'' State television said interim president Iajuddin Ahmad was expected to address the nation around 1600 GMT.

At least 45 people have been killed and hundreds injured in pre-election violence and police say they fear far worse to come ahead of polls that look increasingly untenable.

The interim caretaker government stood firm today in its pledge to hold the elections on January 22 despite the boycott by a multi-party alliance headed by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on grounds the ballot would not be free and impartial.

More than 200 people were injured in clashes with police during a three-day nationwide transport blockade earlier this week called by Hasina try to scuttle the poll she believes is designed to favour her enemy and past prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia.

The violence has prompted the interim administration to call in the army to try to keep the peace but Hasina has continued to press for more strikes and blockades.

The United Nations said today it had suspended all technical support for the elections, while the European Commission said it had also decided to suspend its poll observation mission.

ARMY URGED TO STAY NEUTRAL UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted the situation had deteriorated to the point that the US-based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and the International Republican Institute were also refusing to monitor the elections.

''The political crisis in Bangladesh has severely jeopardised the legitimacy of the electoral process,'' Ban said in a statement released today in Dhaka.

''The announced cancellation of numerous international observation missions is regrettable. The United Nations has had to suspend all technical support to the electoral process, including by closing its International Coordination Office for Election Observers in Dhaka,'' Ban said.

Ban urged the army to stay neutral.

The European Commission expressed deep regret over the political crisis.

''I am deeply disappointed that it has not proven possible for the main parties to reach an agreement paving the way for democratic and credible elections,'' Stefan Frowein, head of the EC delegation in Dhaka, told a news conference.

Khaleda ended her five-year term as prime minister in October and handed over the country and the running of the elections to an interim government in a constitutionally mandated move aimed at ensuring fairness and transparency.

But Hasina's Awami League and its allies have continued to accuse the interim government of bias in Khaleda's favour.

Hasina brushed off the curfew.

''We are not afraid. We will declare a new action programme after assessing the situation,'' she told her party leaders and activists at her Dhaka residence today evening.

''Please go home and to your villages and give a morale boost to workers and supporters,'' she added.

Political analysts say the bitter rivalry between Hasina and Khaleda has divided the country of 140 million and created animosities that may prove impossible to heal.

''The country is definitely moving on a collision course,'' Nurul Kabir, editor of daily New Age told a television talk show.

Reuters BDP GC2106