The urge-to-end state of emergency

Major political parties have called for the lifting of a state of emergency in Bangladesh after the army-backed interim government said it was committed to holding a parliamentary election at the end of the year.

The interim authority imposed a state-of-emergency after it took over on January 11, 2007 after months of political violence and a series of strikes.

Both parties are suffering internal conflict since their leaders, Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia, were arrested on corruption and abuse of power charges. The women, who alternated as prime minister over 15 years to October 2006, have been in jail for months awaiting trial.

Via Reuters