Dhaka - At least 200 people were hurt in street clashes between police and opposition activists trying to blockade Bangladesh's capital on Sunday, witnesses said.

Rock-throwing protesters fought riot police at Kanchpur on the city's outskirts, where 70 people were hurt, including former army chief general KM Shafiullah, an opposition supporter.

Police, who used teargas and baton charges, detained nearly 50 people. As the battle raged, hundreds of people, brandishing sticks, joined the protesters, forcing police to make a temporary retreat.

The protesters burned several vehicles, including a police car. Several policemen were hurt by flying rocks.

Five other street battles erupted. In all more than 200 people, including at least 20 policemen, were hurt, and several vehicles damaged, witnesses said.

Leaders of the opposition Awami League had urged followers to lay siege to the capital.

The opposition wants the caretaker administration that will be appointed to organise January's election to be led by a figure acceptable to all political groups, and the armed forces placed under the caretaker leader's control during the polls.

The high court had banned the blockade, said police. Authorities deployed more than 30 000 riot police and paramilitary troops.

Awami general secretary Abdul Jalil said the opposition would call for an indefinite strike if the government tried to break the blockade.

"The siege is our democratic right and we are going to implement it," Jalil said.

Sporadic violence was also reported from Tongi industrial area, on the city's northern fringe, where nearly 40 protesters were injured and many detained, witnesses said.

Nearly 5 000 opposition activists and suspected criminals were detained by police in the run up to on Sunday's protest. - Reuters

• This article was originally published on page 2 of The Cape Times on June 12, 2006

Published on the Web by IOL on 2006-06-12 01:50:00