Bangladesh to hold Dec 2008 polls-ministry chief

MOSCOW, Sept 3 (Reuters) Bangladesh remains on course to hold elections by December next year, the senior foreign policy adviser of the army-backed interim government said today.

''It is the expressed declaration of the head of government and also of the electoral commission that the election will take place within December 2008,'' Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdury said after a meeting in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The interim administration took over at the start of this year with a promise to hold free and fair elections. It imposed emergency measures to restore order after widespread violence led to the scrapping of elections in January.

The interim government also launched an anti-graft campaign that has netted scores of senior figures.

When asked about the arrest of former Prime Minister Begum Khaledazia, Chowdury told reporters the goverenment was ''creating a level playing field'' for the elections.

He said the government would ensure due process of law for all politicians under arrest.

Bangladesh's interim government has no cabinet ministers but ministries are looked after by advisers. Chowdhury is now the adviser in charge of the foreign ministry.

REUTERS PY VC2115