BRUSSELS (AP) The United States was intensifying efforts Thursday to defuse Russian anger and allay European concerns over plans to extend American anti-missile defenses to Europe. Speaking ahead of talks with Russia and NATO allies, the director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said the strategic defense shield was needed to deter Iran and others in the Middle East from developing long range rockets that could threaten Europe or North America. “Nations like Iran, Syria and others...
Parties to boycott Bangladesh election
Posted in politics | Monday, April 30th, 2007 | Trackback
Bangladesh’s main opposition parties have announced they will boycott national elections scheduled for January 22, alleging the polls will not be fair.
Speaking on behalf of an alliance of 14 opposition parties, Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina says President Iajuddin Ahmed is “illegally” holding the post of interim government chief.
She says he wants to hold elections without a correct list of voters.
“We cannot accept this unfair election,” she said.
The Awami League said on December 24 it would take part in the elections, after calling repeated strikes, protests and blockades that caused massive disruption across the country.
The opposition alliance has accused the outgoing Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of trying to rig the elections by appointing party loyalists to key positions in the temporary administration and election commission.
Since the BNP-led government stepped down at the end of October, the opposition has demanded a string of reforms it says are necessary for the elections to be free and fair.
- AFP
