Bangladesh Leader Buckles to Opposition

"I have decided to resign as head of the caretaker government, to pave the way for an acceptable election in which all political parties can participate," President Iajuddin Ahmed said in a televised speech to the nation, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported Friday, January12 .

Ahmed's announcement came hours after he declared a state of emergency in a bid to tackle worsening violence generated by opposition allegations that the polls, scheduled for January22 , would be rigged.

New elections at a later date, the president promised in his dramatic U-turn, would be "free and fair".

"The new caretaker government will hold dialogue with all the parties, and prepare for new elections within the shortest possible time," he said.

His temporary replacement as head of the interim government, responsible for organising the vote, is Supreme Court judge Fazlul Haq — widely seen as being politically independent.

Ahmed will continue to serve as figurehead president.

The respected winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize, "banker to the poor" Muhammad Yunus, said Friday he had turned down an offer to become the new head of Bangladesh's interim government.

"I was offered to be the chief advisor, but I said no," Yunus, who shared the prestigious award with his micro-credit pioneering Grameen Bank, told AFP.

Victory

The opposition, led by the left-leaning Awami League, said the announcement was a "victory for the people".

"By admitting that the voter list had errors, and quitting as head of the interim government, he has in fact accepted our main demands," opposition spokesman Abdul Jalil told AFP.

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