Dhaka (Agencies)
Nine die, 500 hurt as riots rage in Dhaka

At least nine people died and about 500 were wounded in political riots in Bangladesh yesterday after the man due to take over as interim leader withdrew just hours before taking the oath.
Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s five-year mandate ended on Friday.
Street battles broke out between rival political activists on Friday night after Khaleda made her farewell address on state television, calling for peace once she stepped down.
Protesters blocked highways, burned vehicles, and attacked offices of Khaleda’s BNP and the homes of some ministers, police and witnesses said.
Nine more people were killed yesterday, three in Dhaka, two in eastern Narsingdi and one in the southern port city of Chittagong, taking the death toll in two days to 15, police and hospitals said.
Nearly 150 injured were taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital alone yesterday and about 350 were admitted elsewhere in the country.
According to reports from various hospitals in the capital, many of the injured are in critical condition. Witnesses said police fired rubber bullets and tear gas trying to disperse the fighters, who included members of the opposition Awami League, the BNP and BNP ally Jamaat-e-Islami.
Several policemen were hurt by stones and brickbats hurled by the rioters, who damaged dozens of vehicles in the capital.
In the southern coastal district of Barisal, the home of former President Abdur Rahman Biswas, a BNP member, was set on fire yesterday. “We are facing a very volatile and unpredictable situation,” one police officer said. “The uncertainties are lingering and tension deepening.”
A spokesman at the US embassy said “political differences should be resolved through democratic means. Violence solves nothing.” Envoys of European Union countries in Dhaka were to meet today to discuss the country’s situation, diplomats said.
“In such a violent situation armed forces may be compelled to take over power temporarily to save the country from destruction,” retired Major-General Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, told Reuters.
The alliance had vowed to paralyse the country if the government went ahead with the plan to make Hasan leader.
The constitution allows the president to be in charge of government for 15 days or ask the outgoing prime minister to continue for the same period. A caretaker head of government has to take over after that.
Last update on: 29-10-2006